Sanet Post, Geoff King
Plant Resistance to Herbivory
June 25, 1997

Geoff King wrote:

Joel, good question, I'm wondering if it might not be related to the fact that plants under stress are probably growing more slowly than their next door neighbor plants, therefore are less physiologically mature, therefore more tender? I offer this possible answer after years of watching rotationally grazed sheep(herbal defoiliaters of the most descriminating nature) select the slower growing, less mature forage out of paddocks having much variability in soil type, slope, orientation, and soil moisture, within each paddock. I have often wondered if these plants on less favorable sites within each paddock actually had a different chemical or mineral composition, due to their specific location within the paddock, and therefore were more desireable to the grazing animal. Anyway, for whatever reason, I concur with the observation that herbivores can be highly selective in choosing their diet.

geoff