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On Foraging Time Allocation in a Stochastic Environment
Author(s) -
Caraco Thomas
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1937162
Subject(s) - foraging , optimal foraging theory , maximization , ecology , stochastic modelling , variation (astronomy) , computer science , mathematical optimization , econometrics , mathematics , biology , statistics , physics , astrophysics
A model of foraging in a stochastic environment is presented. Drawing on statistical decision theory, this paper suggests that maximization of expected utility may be a useful optimization criterion for ecological problems. The common notion of feeding preferences is extended to preferences over the probability distributions of net energetic benefits associated with available resources. By incorporating a forager's response to environmental variation, the model can lead to predictions that contrast with those of most deterministic feeding models.