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© 1998 International Society for Behavioral Ecology

research-article

Simple models of feeding with time and enery contstraints

Ron Ydenberga and pete Hurdb

aBehavioral Ecology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada bZoologiska Institutionen, Stockholms Universitet Stockholm S-106 91, Sweden

ABSTRACT

We analyze how the foraging currencies "rate" (net energy gain per unit time) and "efficiency" (net energy gain per unit energy expenditure) relate to the workload adopted by a forager. We consider feeding (gathering food for immediate consumption) as opposed to provisioning and investigate the influence of time and energy constraints. In our model the forager may vary the level of energy expenditure while foraging; increased expenditure increases the rate of gain, but with diminishing returns. We show that rate maximizing requires a higher rate of energy expenditure than efficiency-maximizing, and we compare the performance of rate- and efficiency-maximizing tactics when the feeding strategy is (1) to maximize the total net gain while foraging; (2) to maximize the total net daily gain; or (3) to meet a requirement. Generally, the rate-maximizing tactic only performs best when time is limiting; otherwise, a lighter workload and slower feeding rate perform better. Under the restricted conditions analyzed here, no general statement can be made about the best tactic when the strategy is to meet a requirement. These results may help explain several instances of "submaximal" foraging described in the literature.

Key words: efficiency maximization, foraging theory, rate maximization, submaximal foraging, workload.


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