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When is a herbivore not a herbivore?

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Young herbivores are not herbivores. With the apparent exception of some chewing insects they cannot survive and growth without eating animal or microbial protein. Further reinforcing how short available nitrogen is in plant food, adult herbivores must feed selectively and depend on intestinal microorganisms to obtain sufficient nitrogen for maintenance and breeding.

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  1. School of Applied Science, Riverina-Murray Institute of Higher Education, Wagga Wagga, N.S.W., Australia

    T. C. R. White

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  1. T. C. R. White
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White, T.C.R. When is a herbivore not a herbivore?. Oecologia 67, 596–597 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00790034

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00790034

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