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How Important are Nutrient Constraints in Optimal Foraging Models or are Spatial/Temporal Factors More Important?

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Behavioural Mechanisms of Food Selection

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIG,volume 20))

Abstract

Optimal foraging theory (henceforth called OFT) perhaps has achieved some of the greatest successes in quantitatively predicting observed patterns (i.e. diets) in nature, than any other ecological theory (Schoener 1986, Stephens and Krebs 1986). This is not to say that OFT has been accepted without reservation, nor that the predictive successes of the theory are unambiguous (Gray 1986, Pierce and Ollason 1987). Two major complaints about OFT studies have been espoused. First, predicted diets may not be as close to the observed values as implied by investigators. Second, investigators sometimes invoke post hoc explanations when predicted and observed values do not closely correspond.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology and School of Natural Resources, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109-1115, USA

    Gary E. Belovsky

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  1. Gary E. Belovsky
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Functional and Evolutionary Biology School of Biological Sciences, University College of North Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK

    Roger N. Hughes

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© 1990 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Belovsky, G.E. (1990). How Important are Nutrient Constraints in Optimal Foraging Models or are Spatial/Temporal Factors More Important?. In: Hughes, R.N. (eds) Behavioural Mechanisms of Food Selection. NATO ASI Series, vol 20. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75118-9_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75118-9_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-75120-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-75118-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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