A conceptual model of diet selection as an ecosystem process

Ellis, James E.; Wiens, John A.; Rodell, Charles F.; Anway, Jerry C.

doi:10.1016/0022-5193(76)90157-0

Cited by 118 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Moreover, latency correlated positively with the amount of concealed food, supporting a negative relationship between exploratory behaviour and concealed food. One possible explanation for these novel findings may be that concealed resources are more stable and predictable in supply compared to food that is not concealed (Ellis et al 1976;Sherry 1990). If so, species that rely on such predictable resources should be less dependent on the discovery of new food types and can therefore afford to be less explorative.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploration and ecology in Darwin’s finches

2008

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One of the main functions of exploratory behaviour is to gain information about the environment. The adaptive value of such behaviour should vary with ecological conditions influencing the diversity and stability of resources, as well as with the costs associated with gathering information. Consequently, predictions can be made about environmental factors influencing the evolution of exploration. We used comparative methods, combining a field experiment with literature data, to study correlated evolution between explorative behaviour and ecology among 13 species of Darwin's finches. Controlling for phylogenetic influences, we found that exploration (measured as the proportion of individuals responding in the experiment) increased with diet diversity and the amount of fruit in diet, consistent with theories stating that exploration aimed at finding new food types should be more beneficial for generalists than for specialists. However, our study is the first to demonstrate a correlation between neophilia and food diversity. Contrary to our prediction, species with a high percentage of concealed food in their diet were less explorative. A possible explanation for this novel finding is that in our study system concealed food may be a stable resource, and species using such resources should be less dependent on the discovery of new food types.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploration and ecology in Darwin’s finches

2008

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“…Diet optimisation theories (Schoener 1971;Emlen 1973;Ellis et al 1976) suggest that animals optimise some function during feeding, (e.g., maximise energy, minimise feeding time, or meet some nutritional constraint). For grazing ruminants the most likely strategies are: (l) prey switching where selection is positively correlated with relative abundance; (2) energy optimisation where selection is constant as relative abundance increases; and (3) nutritional constraint where selection is negatively correlated with relative abundance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Composition of the diet of sheep grazing swards of differing white clover content and spatial distribution

Clark¹,

Harris²

1985

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

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Thirty swards containing either alternating strips of pure grass and pure clover or mixed grass and clover were developed by herbicide treatment to give nominal white clover proportions of 10, 30, 50, 70, and 90%. Diet selection was estimated in 3 periods using both oesophageally fistulated sheep and pre-and post-grazing cuts to determine the effect of spatial distribution and white clover content of the sward on diet content. Clover in the sward varied from 1.1 to 90.4%. White clover was intensely selected in Period 1 in both mixed and strip swards because clover leaves overtopped a canopy of mainly dead grass. There was no evidence for preferential selection of clover from mixed swards in Periods 2 and 3, but preference was shown on the strip swards. Preference for weed species was marked, with some being grazed to ground level. There was no correlation for either grass or clover between preference and sward content on mixed plots. This implies that sheep were grazing to optimise energy intake. On strip plots, preference for white clover decreased above 50% sward content suggesting that some form of nutritional constraint may have been important. Sheep showed a strong preference to graze on the clover strips in the strip swards and appeared to discriminate in favour of clover within this strip. High levels of white clover are needed in mixed swards if clover is to make an important contribution to animal nutrition, but the provision of strips of clover is unlikely to be economic.

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“…Ketersediaan pangan dan kekhawatiran yang berlebihan juga dapat membiaskan pengaruh pengetahuan gizi terhadap perilaku makan (Per-Andersen, 1987;Ellis et al, 1976). Kelangkaan pangan karena bencana alam atau gangguan distribusi pangan bisa jadi membuat orang tidak bisa mengonsumsi pangan bergizi kesukaannya.…”

Section: Pengetahuan Giziunclassified

Review Faktor Determinan Keragaman Konsumsi Pangan

Hardinsyah

2007

J Gizi Pangan

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A conceptual model of diet selection as an ecosystem process

Cited by 118 publications

References 27 publications

Exploration and ecology in Darwin’s finches

Exploration and ecology in Darwin’s finches

Composition of the diet of sheep grazing swards of differing white clover content and spatial distribution

Review Faktor Determinan Keragaman Konsumsi Pangan

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