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THE MATCHING LAW APPLIES TO WAGTAILS' FORAGING IN THE WILD
Author(s) -
Houston Alasdair
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of the experimental analysis of behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.75
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1938-3711
pISSN - 0022-5002
DOI - 10.1901/jeab.1986.45-15
Subject(s) - foraging , matching (statistics) , computer science , artificial intelligence , statistics , mathematics , biology , ecology
Field data concerning the time budgets and foraging success of pied wagtails ( Motacilla alba yarrelli , Gould) are reanalyzed. It is found that the data are well described by the generalized matching law, with a marked bias towards spending time on the territory. In this case matching is not the result of maximizing reward rate, but it remains possible that it results from an allocation of time that maximizes survival.