Title | Nutrient aspect of optimal foraging behavior |
Publication Type | Thesis |
Year of Publication | 1980 |
Authors | Repass R |
Number of Pages | 37 |
Date Published | 1980 |
University | New Mexico State University |
City | Las Cruces, New Mexico |
Thesis Type | M.S. Thesispp |
Call Number | 00266 |
Keywords | ant,foraging behavior, ant,harvester ant, ant,nutrients, dissertation, dissertations, foraging behavior, model, Charkov, model,ant foraging behavior, nutrient,ants, Pogonomyrmex,foraging behavior, theses, thesis |
Abstract | When tested under field conditions, the workers of colonies of the harvester an Pogonomyrmex occidentalis will differentially recruit to patches of diet that are equal in caloric value but differ in nutrient quality. The patches of diet presented to the colonies consisted of artificial "seeds" that varied in the percent protein composition.... The results of these experiments suggest that optimal foraging models based solely on energetic considerations may be too simplistic. I suggest a generalization of Charnov's 1976 model that would allow the inclusion of nutrient components and other factors such as water content or toxin concentrations within the model. Such a model should be of greater predictive value than a model based on energetics alone. |