Grazing

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

Grazing is the regular consumption of part of one organism without killing it by another organism. Grazing differs from predation because the organism being eaten is not killed, and it differs from the feeding of parasites by the fact that the two organisms do not stay together very long, nor is the grazer so limited in what it can eat.

The most commonly understood example of grazing is mammals feeding on grasslands although it can also refer to any plants, algae or plankton being eaten by reptiles, insects, birds etc.

Many smaller, selective herbivores follow grazers because they skim off the highest, tough growth of plants exposing tender shoots.

[edit] Common grazing animals

• Antelope
• Bison
• Buffalo
• Cattle
• Elephants
• Horses
• Rabbits
• Sheep

[edit] Major grazing areas

• North American Prairie
• African Savanna
• Asian Steppe
• North of the Goyder's Line (South Australia)

[edit] See also

• managed intensive grazing
• grazing rights