Foraging TheoryThis account of the current state of foraging theory is also a valuable description of the use of optimality theory in behavioral ecology in general. Organizing and introducing the main research themes in economic analyses of animal feeding behavior, the authors analyze the empirical evidence bearing on foraging models and answer criticisms of optimality modeling. They explain the rationale for applying optimality models to the strategies and mechanics of foraging and present the basic "average-rate maximizing" models and their extensions. |
Contents
3 | |
The Prey and Patch Models | 13 |
Changed Constraints | 38 |
4 Incomplete Information | 75 |
Tradeoffs and Herbivory | 104 |
6 RiskSensitive Foraging | 128 |
The Logic of MultiStage Decision Making | 151 |
Rules of Thumb and Satisficing | 170 |
9 Testing Foraging Models | 183 |
The Spandrel Meets Its ArchRival | 206 |
217 | |
239 | |