Understanding how herbivores respond to spatial and temporal resource variability is a central aspect of resource use ecology. This 18-month study examined how seasonal changes in food plants availability, distribution and nutritional quality influence the foraging behaviour of African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Mwea National Reserve, Kenya. We hypothesized that seasonal food selectivity would correlate with vegetation heterogeneity, plant abundance and nutrient content particularly protein, phosphorus and calcium. Using standard ecological methods, food plants were sampled, identified and analysed for nutrient composition. Preference ratios and diversity indices were compared across seasons and vegetation types. Although no significant co-variation was found between food plant and overall species diversity (F (3, 1) = 7.8, p = 0.25, R-2 = 0.836), elephants showed selective foraging, varying by habitat (F = 3.705, p < 0.05). Protein-rich species were consistently favoured; phosphorus-rich plants were selected in the dry season, and calcium-rich species were avoided in the wet season. Dry-season habitat use was influenced by plant heterogeneity and proximity to water, while wet-season use reflected resource evenness. These findings highlight the importance of vegetation structure, spatial distribution and nutrient content in elephant foraging strategies, particularly within fenced landscapes.
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