Increasing prey profitability
How to maximize e/h?
Decrease h!
star-nosed mole
22 appendages
25,000 Eimer’s organs
100,000 neurons
(6x that of human hand) How to reduce handling time How to reduce handling time
cortical magnification: area of
somatosensory cortex per sensory organ Moles like fast food
Less than ¼ of a second
to identify and handle prey Moles like fast food
Ken Catania The optimal mole
What should a mole do
if it encounters prey 2?
λ1e1
1 + λ1h1
>
Eat it!
λ1e1 + λ2e2
1 + λ1h1 + λ2h2
Predictions
Handling times
for small prey
are negligible
1. If true, eat only prey 1 (specialize)
2. If not true, take both prey 1+2 (generalize) Where to forage?
Prey found in patches
Patches distributed in habitat Patch models
Energy gain
How long should an
animal stay in a patch?
Depends on the distance
between patches
Patch time Energy gain
Patch models: marginal value theorem
optimal patch times
long
short
Travel time to
next patch
Patch time Empirical evidence: marginal value theorem
Mantid predator
House fly prey Empirical evidence: marginal value theorem
great tit Exceptions to OFT
Central place foragers
violate patch laws
Collect loads
before returning
to central place
chipmunk Exceptions to OFT
Constraints limit optimal foraging
parasitoid wasp
Sub-optimal foraging
in Atta ants?
Bio 281 2011 Lecture 10 - Foraging Part 2
of 13
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