Foraging

Definition

Foraging is the behavior by which organisms search for and obtain food. It involves a series of decision-making processes to maximize energy intake while minimizing energy expenditure and risk.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Foraging behavior can be influenced by both proximate causes, such as genetic and physiological factors, and ultimate causes like evolutionary pressures.
2. Optimal foraging theory suggests that animals will maximize their net energy intake per unit of time spent foraging.
3. Different foraging strategies include solitary foraging, group foraging, and cooperative hunting.
4. The marginal value theorem helps explain how an animal decides when to leave a depleted food patch and move to a new one.
5. Learning plays a crucial role in foraging; animals can improve their efficiency through experience and observation.

Review Questions

• What are the key differences between proximate and ultimate causes of foraging behavior?
• How does optimal foraging theory explain an animal's food-seeking behavior?
• What role does learning play in the effectiveness of an animal's foraging strategy?

Related terms

Optimal Foraging Theory: A model that predicts how an animal behaves when searching for food in order to maximize its net energy intake.

Marginal Value Theorem: A principle that describes the strategy an organism uses to decide when to leave a resource patch in search of another.

Cooperative Hunting: A coordinated hunting strategy where multiple individuals work together to capture prey more effectively.