Time-concentrated sampling : a simple strategy for information gain at a novel, depleted patch

• Main Author: Gibson, Keith W.
• Other Authors: Kramer, Donald L. (advisor)
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: McGill University 2002
• Subjects: Eastern chipmunk > Food.; Eastern chipmunk > Behavior.
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=78368

Little theoretical or empirical research has examined how an animal that has found and exploited a new patch should determine whether and when it will renew. A rapid series of visits to the patch should provide information concerning the probability of a quick renewal. If a renewal is not encountered, however, a subsequent decrease in the rate of visits should allow monitoring of the patch at minimal cost. After a long period without renewal, a patch should not be visited at all. By analogy with area-concentrated search, I propose the term 'time-concentrated sampling' (TCS) for this pattern of visits and suggest that it should be widespread for species foraging on patchy prey in environments where the probability of renewal and latency to renewal of patches are variable between patches. In this study, I tested whether eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) presented with a small number of peanuts followed by a small patch of sunflower seeds exhibit TCS following their depletion of these and, if so, whether their patterns of visits are influenced by potential indicators of patch value. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)