Lecture—
Optimal Foraging Theory
Costs and benefits
When and why should an organism change its food source?
Constraints
Finding, identification, obtaining
Handling
Predator prey relationships—food consumed is killed in the process of consumption
Some examples
Shore crabs and edible mussels (Carcinus maenas and Mytilus edulis)
Oyster drills and edible mussels (
Grazer relationships—food consumed is only somewhat harmed in the consumption
Parasitic relationships—host is somewhat harmed by the its use via the parasite