Decision ecology: Foraging and the ecology of animal decision making |
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Authors: | David W Stephens |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The Ohio State University, 205 Dreese Labs, 2015 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;(2) Department of Evolution, Evology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, 318 W. 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA |
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Abstract: | In this article, I review the approach taken by behavioral ecologists to the study of animal foraging behavior and explore
connections with general analyses of decision making. I use the example of patch exploitation decisions in this article in
order to develop several key points about the properties of naturally occurring foraging decisions. First, I argue that experimental
preparations based on binary, mutually exclusive choice are not good models of foraging decisions. Instead, foraging choices
have a sequential foreground-background structure, in which one option is in the background of all other options. Second,
behavioral ecologists view foraging as a hierarchy of decisions that range from habitat selection to food choice. Finally,
data suggest that foraging animals are sensitive to several important trade-offs. These trade-offs include the effects of
competitors and group mates, as well as the problem of predator avoidance. |
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Keywords: | |
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