Lecture 15. Foraging Behavior and Optimality

These flashcards cover key terminology related to foraging behavior, optimality in animal feeding strategies, communication methods in bees, and social structures among foragers.

Foraging

The act of searching for and gathering food.

Oystercatcher

A shorebird species (Haematopus ostralegus) that selects mussels based on caloric value.

Search Image

A mental representation of prey that enhances a predator's ability to locate it.

Communication in Bees

Bees communicate distance and location of nectar sources through round and waggle dances.

Optic Flow

The rate at which an image moves across the visual field of an observer, used by bees to measure distance.

Information Centre

A social structure where animals (like ravens) gather to share information about food locations.

Clay Eating in Macaws

Behavior observed in macaws and humans to counteract zinc deficiency and aid digestion.

Predator Search Strategy

Predators may adjust their foraging behavior based on the visual cues of their prey.

Social Foraging

The act of foraging in groups, which may increase efficiency in locating food.

Fitness and Diet

The relationship between an organism’s diet, the availability of nutrients, and its overall fitness.