Home / Summaries / Leereenheid 3 - Populaties / energy-foraging-predator

Predation, grazing and disease - Foraging behavior: foraging and transmission - Foraging behavior

Q: How can you measure effectiveness of foraging behavior?

Through the net rate of energy intake . This is the amount of energy obtained per unit of time after account has been taken of the energy expended by the predator carrying out its foraging .

Q: Explain the 5 aspects of the optimal foraging theory.

Where does a predator concentrate its foraging ? - Where the long term expected net energy intake is highest OR where the risk of extended periods of low intake is lowest? Does the chosen location reflect the expected energy intake ? OR is there some balancing of this against the risk of being preyed upon by its own predators? How long does a predator stay in 1 location before moving to the next? What are the effects of other, competing predators foraging in the same habitat ? No predator can consume all types of prey , how does this affect the predator's choice?

Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a specialist?

Advantage : they only include high-profitability items in their diet. Disadvantage : They spend a relatively large amount of time searching for them.

3 important questions on Predation, grazing and disease - Foraging behavior: foraging and transmission - Foraging behavior

How can you measure effectiveness of foraging behavior?

Through the net rate of energy intake. This is the amount of energy obtained per unit of time after account has been taken of the energy expended by the predator carrying out its foraging.

Explain the 5 aspects of the optimal foraging theory.

Where does a predator concentrate its foraging?
- Where the long term expected net energy intake is highest OR where the risk of extended periods of low intake is lowest?
Does the chosen location reflect the expected energy intake? OR is there some balancing of this against the risk of being preyed upon by its own predators?
How long does a predator stay in 1 location before moving to the next?
What are the effects of other, competing predators foraging in the same habitat?
No predator can consume all types of prey, how does this affect the predator's choice?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a specialist?

Advantage: they only include high-profitability items in their diet.
Disadvantage: They spend a relatively large amount of time searching for them.