Lorena Benitez
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Optimal foraging theory relies on minimizing energy expenditure while maximizing resource intake. Within a heterogeneous landscape this is based upon concentrating movement between resource dense patches along low cost routes. Utilization of resource patches by African elephants (Loxodonta africana) is observable via the permanent trails they create within forests from repeated travel. I hypothesized that elephant trails are relatively efficient for acquiring resources, and that trail density would be higher in areas with greater resource availability. Maps of elephant trails and resources were recorded within a 64 km2 plot of Kibale National Park, Uganda which contains a variety of habitat types including grassland, forest, and swamp. Seasonal use of elephant trails and resource centers was recorded by video camera traps. This data was then compared to topographic, phenological, meteorological and remote sensing data to estimate the spatial and temporal efficiency of elephant resource utilization in the area
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