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Optimal foraging for multiple nutrients in an unpredictable environment
Author(s) -
Houston Alasdair I.,
Higginson Andrew D.,
McNamara John M.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2011.01678.x
Subject(s) - foraging , organism , nutrient , optimal foraging theory , ecology , biology , resource (disambiguation) , range (aeronautics) , selection (genetic algorithm) , computer science , composite material , computer network , paleontology , materials science , artificial intelligence
Ecology Letters (2011) 14 : 1101–1107 Abstract Foraging theory has typically been concerned with the acquisition of a single resource even though organisms from mammals to protozoa are capable of balancing their requirements for multiple resources. Existing theory concerning multiple nutrients from multiple foods does not predict the sequence of food selection. We constructed an optimisation model of the simplest case of two foods containing differing amounts of two nutrients. We begin with the well‐supported assumption that reproductive value declines with the distance from target nutrient intake. We show that nutrient space divides into two distinct areas where the animal should exclusively consume one food or the other. The organism thus initially concentrates on one food type until the border between the areas is reached and then moves as closely as possible along the border to approach the target. This strategy is commonly observed in a range of organisms, suggesting that the assumed fitness function is common.