Fig. 1.

NDVI and stable isotope record of B1013 compared with other elephants. (A) Average 10-day composite NDVI values for the Samburu National Reserve region from 2001 through 2002, where elevated values indicate increased vegetative productivity occurring during wet seasons. (B) δ¹⁵N of hair from B1013 (black line; n = 83) and observations of B1013 in Samburu National Reserve (black rectangles; n = 17) during 2001 and 2002 compared with the range of average values of δ¹⁵N (±2σ; gray region; n = 520) in hairs of six resident elephants of Samburu National Reserve. Chronology was established as described in the text. Each average value (with standard deviation) of the Samburu National Reserve residents was averaged during the 10-day intervals coinciding with NDVI composite data. (C) δ¹³C from hair of B1013 (open circles; n = 83) compared with the average δ¹³C (±2σ; gray region; n = 520) values of hair from six resident elephants of Samburu National Reserve. (D) Estimated C₄ component of diet of B1013 (open circles; n = 83) compared with the average of six resident elephants of Samburu National Reserve. Gray area shows the diet (±2σ; gray region, n = 520) of six resident elephants of Samburu National Reserve. Diet as percent C₄ biomass was estimated as in ref. 12.