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An Optimization Equation for Predation
Author(s) -
Marten Gerald G.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1934377
Subject(s) - predation , competition (biology) , predator , abundance (ecology) , ecology , preference , food preference , order (exchange) , structural equation modeling , biology , mathematics , statistics , food science , economics , finance
A general equation is derived for the quantity of different foods a predator consumes in response to food preference and food abundance. It is supposed the predator apportions its efforts among different search modes in order to minimize the discrepancy between actual and desired quantities of each food consumed. Included are the conflict between quantity and composition of the diet and the competition between feeding and nonfeeding activities. The properties of the equation are examined and discussed in light of the literature.