Optimality Foraging
This study was undertaken to experimentally test for evidence of optimal foraging in guppies, Poecilia reticulata. Foraging preferences of guppies feeding on brine shrimp were studied to make predictions about optimal diet breadth. First, the profitabilities (Engery intake/ handling times) were determined by testing the handling time of four size classes of guppies foraging on brine shrimp of sizes 2, 4, 6, and 8 mm. The following week, we tested whether guppies of various sizes prefer prey that return the greatest benefit. This was accomplished by arbitrarily placing brine shrimp of different sizes in various tanks with different size guppies. Our results did not support the optimal diet breadth theory.All species must obtain some sort of nutrition in order to survive and reproduce. To do this, many animals must forage for their own food. Therefore, the energy used to forage could be energy used for other activities, such as mating. Thu
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Some common words found in the essay are:
, Week Frozen, brine shrimp, size classes, handling times, size class, 8 mm, prey items, efficient foraging behaviors, size predator size, times prey size, 4 6, 6 8, maximize benefits costs, size prey, size predator, handling times prey,
Approximate Word count = 662
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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