Final answer:
It is true that carnivores typically have a larger home range than herbivores due to their need to hunt prey, while herbivores find food in more confined spaces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that for a given body size, the home range of carnivores is greater than that of herbivores is typically true. Carnivores require larger territories to secure enough prey to sustain themselves. On the other hand, herbivores often have smaller home ranges as they can usually find ample plant materials within a more confined area. The niche differentiation between carnivores and herbivores extends beyond just home range; it includes dietary requirements, digestion, and physical adaptations like dentition for different feeding strategies.
For instance, carnivores have teeth specialized for ripping food, such as the lion's sharp canines, while herbivores have teeth adapted for grinding, like the flat molars found in cows. Additionally, studies have shown that the number of species present increases with the size of the habitat, which is relevant when considering the space requirements of carnivores versus herbivores. Herbivores often have a longer intestinal tract than carnivores, which allows them to extract nutrients from plant materials, which are more difficult to break down and absorb.