Optimal Foraging Theory: An Introduction

Aowphol, Anchalee

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-809633-8.01156-0

Cited by 42 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…According to our direct observations, due to the low forage availability in the summer and fall, goats spent more time moving between feeding stations to maximize their instantaneous intake rate, in line with the Optimal Foraging Theory (OFT) that explains instantaneous decisions of foraging herbivores with regards to energy and time trade-offs of the grazing process [32,[49][50][51]. Indeed, as noted by Charnov [32], the reduced forage availability causes the reduced time spent by animals at each feeding station and, consequently, conducts an increase in traveling duration spent between feeding stations and patches.…”

Section: Foraging Behavior Decisions Of Goatssupporting

confidence: 75%

Foraging Behavior of Goats Browsing in Southern Mediterranean Forest Rangeland

Otmani

Chentouf²,

Hornick

et al. 2020

Animals

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Mediterranean forest rangelands offer an important feed source for goats. Concerns about grazing strategies and management schemes in order to ensure the rangeland sustainability of Southern Mediterranean forest have revived interest in the foraging behavior of goats. This study was conducted to investigate the seasonal changes of feeding behavior of grazing goats in the Southern Mediterranean forest rangeland of Northern Morocco during two consecutive years beginning in 2016. The direct observation method was used to compare diet composition, intake rate, and diet selectivity of goats during three seasons (spring, summer, and fall). Bite mass of each plant species selected by goats was estimated using hand-plucked simulation. The optimal foraging theory was used as a tool to explain the goats foraging decisions. Bite mass range was extremely wide and varied seasonally. The goats’ diet was largely composed of Cistus spp., Lavandula stoechas, Quercus spp., and Myrtus communis. The result shows that the smaller the bite mass, the higher the biting rate, leading to increased short term intake rates. The selection of various plant species during fall and summer enlarged the diet diversity of goats. As expected, goats preferred trees and some shrubs despite their low availability. Consequently, the most available species is not necessarily the most positively selected. Particular high and positive selection of Quercus suber was observed over seasons. The outcomes confirm the high adaptability and ability of goats to select a woody species across seasons. Knowledge about forage availability and the feeding behavior of goats could be used as the first guide for rangeland managers to ensure herd and forest sustainability.

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Section: Foraging Behavior Decisions Of Goatssupporting

confidence: 75%

Foraging Behavior of Goats Browsing in Southern Mediterranean Forest Rangeland

Otmani

Chentouf²,

Hornick

et al. 2020

Animals

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“…Foraging is any behavioural activity that affects intake of food, or some other resource; it involves continuous decision-making, use of information about both the past and the present, and is subject to constraints (Pyke 2010b). We generally think of foraging as including activities such as searching or hunting for food and consuming/ digesting food, but this is logically equivalent to similar activities involving any other kind of resource.…”

Section: Optimal Foraging: An Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Evolutionary theory helps us to understand foraging behaviour (Pyke 2010b). Foraging behaviour, or more accurately the mechanisms and processes that determine it, would have evolved by natural selection, becoming adaptive in the sense that it confers higher biological fitness (i.e., ability to reproduce) to individuals than certain evolutionarily feasible alternatives.…”

Section: Optimal Foraging: An Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Optimal Foraging Theory (OFT) further provides a potentially powerful tool for understanding foraging behaviour through the additional assumption that foraging behaviour is maximally adaptive (Pyke 1984;Pyke 2010b). In this case, it is generally assumed that the fitness outcomes of foraging can be assessed in terms of some currency, such as energy or nutrients, and that foraging maximises this currency (Simpson et al 2004).…”

Section: Optimal Foraging: An Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…OFT has been most successful with regard to nectarfeeding animals, for which the currency of foraging may often be primarily energy, and less successful for other animals, such as generalist herbivores and omnivores (Pyke 2010b;Simpson et al 2004). In the case of bumblebees, for example, individual foragers are non-reproductive members of colonies consisting mostly of mother and sisters, often forage almost entirely for floral nectar, a sugar solution that provides important energy, and are not subject to predation or other factors while foraging (Pyke 1978;Pyke 1979).…”

Section: Optimal Foraging: An Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Do humans forage optimally and what does this mean for zoology on the table?

Pyke

2017

Australian Zoologist

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Optimal Foraging Theory (OFT), enables understanding of foraging behaviour, which is exhibited by all of life, through the assumption that foraging behaviour maximises some currency of foraging. OFT has been relatively successful for nectar-feeding animals, with energy the primary foraging currency, and less successful for generalist herbivores and omnivores, for which foraging currencies include nutrients. It has been extended to other areas of biology, applied to human foraging, is a strong ecological theory, and 2016 marks its' 50th birthday. Human foraging has been affected by interrelated , recent and rapid developments of agriculture, animal husbandry, technology, social living and culture. Consequently, the foraging environment in which humans evolved is long gone, and our foraging may not be well adapted to current circumstances. Human foraging is therefore caught in "evolutionary traps". For example, as generalist omnivores we evolved a 'balanced diet', commonly represented by 'food pyramids', reflecting how often we encountered and consumed various food types during our evolutionary past. We therefore evolved preferences to collect and consume foods high in fats, oils, sugar and salt, valuable when rare, but adversely affecting our health with increasing availability. Additionally, given diverse arrays of potential food items, we should mimic foraging behaviour of others, especially those we know, admire and trust. Consequently, we are strongly affected by cultural influences, and by advertising and marketing of food types and 'fad diets', especially when promoted by movie stars, sports heroes and the like. Being omnivores, animal meat will likely remain 'on the table' indefinitely, with consumption depending on availability, plus benefits and costs, whether real or imaginary, all ingredients of the optimal foraging approach. Of course, perceived benefits of consuming animal meat are likely to be greatly influenced through what we hear or see via others. Looking ahead, 'zoology on the table' will remain contentious, OFT will be significantly developed for non-human organisms with some interest in understanding human foraging, and there will be much further research on effectiveness of advertising. No doubt, we shall continue to be deluged with messages advocating what we should eat and drink, and health issues associated with non-optimal diets will persist.

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Pollinator visitation closely tracks diurnal patterns in pollen release

Štenc

Janošík

Matoušková

et al. 2023

American J of Botany

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Premise: Animal-pollinated plants face a high risk of pollen loss during its transfer. To limit the negative effect of pollen losses by pollen consumption and heterospecific transfer, plant species may adjust and stratify their pollen availability during the day (i.e., "schedule" their pollen presentation) and attract pollinators in specific time frames. Methods: We investigated diurnal patterns of pollen availability and pollinator visitation in three coflowering plant species: Succisa pratensis with open flowers and accessible pollen, pollinated mainly by pollen-feeding hoverflies; Centaurea jacea with open flowers and less accessible pollen, pollinated mainly by pollen-collecting bees; and Trifolium hybridum with closed flowers and pollen accessible only after the active opening of the flower, pollinated exclusively by bees. Results: The three plant species differed in the peak pollen availability, tracked by the visitation activity of their pollinators. Succisa pratensis released all pollen in the morning, while pollinator activity was still low and peaked with a slight delay. In contrast, C. jacea and T. hybridum had distinct pollen presentation schedules, peaking in the early afternoon. The pollinator visitation to both of these species closely matched their pollen availability. Conclusions: Stratifying pollen availability to pollinators during the day may be one of several mechanisms that allow coflowering plants to share their pollinators and decrease the probability of heterospecific pollen transfer.

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Optimal Foraging Theory: An Introduction

Cited by 42 publications

References 43 publications

Foraging Behavior of Goats Browsing in Southern Mediterranean Forest Rangeland

Foraging Behavior of Goats Browsing in Southern Mediterranean Forest Rangeland

Do humans forage optimally and what does this mean for zoology on the table?

Pollinator visitation closely tracks diurnal patterns in pollen release

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