Optimal foraging theory predicts effects of environmental enrichment in a group of adult golden lion tamarins
Abstract 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2361(1998)17:33.3.CO;2-F The success of environmental enrichment programs in effecting specific changes in the behavior of captive animals has not always been uniform. Separate studies demonstrated both an increase in food competition and a decrease in food competition among captive group-living primates upon introduction of foraging devices. The objectives of this study were to measure […]
Free food or earned food? A review and fuzzy model of contrafreeloading
Animals will work (e.g. lever press) for [`]earned’ food even though identical [`]free’ food can easily be obtained from a nearby dish. This phenomenon, called contrafreeloading, appears to contradict a basic tenet of most learning, motivation and optimal foraging theories; namely that animals strive to maximize the ratio of reward, or benefit, to effort, or […]
Flexibility and persistence of chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) foraging behavior in a captive environment
As a result of environmental variability, animals may be confronted with uncertainty surrounding the presence of, or accessibility to, food resources at a given location or time. While individuals can rely on personal experience to manage this variability, the behavior of members of an individual’s social group can also provide information regarding the availability or […]
When is it adaptive to be patient? A general framework for evaluating delayed rewards
The tendency of animals to seek instant gratification instead of waiting for greater long-term benefits has been described as impatient, impulsive or lacking in self-control. How can we explain the evolution of such seemingly irrational behaviour? Here we analyse optimal behaviour in a variety of simple choice situations involving delayed rewards. We show that preferences […]
Search efficiency of free-ranging plains bison for optimal food items
Optimal decisions in classical foraging models depend on the encounter rate with food items that are often distributed heterogeneously at one or multiple spatial scales. Only a few studies, however, provide a detailed assessment of the determinants of foraging efficiency by free-ranging animals across spatial scales. We evaluated multilevel search efficiency of free-ranging plains bison, […]
Salmon Fishing by Bears and the Dawn of Cooperative Predation
Although bears are an epitome of solitary predation, black (Ursus americanus) and brown bears (U. arctos) occasionally act in pairs to capture salmon (Onchorynchousspp.). I sought to identify conditions that promote pairing and how this relates to optimal foraging. This study on Alaskan black bears assessed whether each mode of fishing (solo vs. paired) occurs […]
Foraging dynamics in Steller’s jays: size and viability of cacheable food items
Several species of birds and mammals cache food items, which in harsh conditions may translate into improved survival or reproductive success. Animals may benefit from evaluating the quality of cache items in terms of size, nutrition and storage viability. Steller’s jays, Cyanocitta stelleri, which cache seeds for later consumption, may handle multiple food items with […]