The size dependency of foraging behaviour: an empirical test performed on aquatic amphipods.

ABSTRACT: The behavioural choices made by foragers regarding the use of resource patches have a direct influence on the energy balance of the individual. Given that several individual traits linked to the acquisition of spatially distributed resources increase with body size (e.g., energy requirements, resource ingestion rates, and movement capacity), it is reasonable to expect size dependencies in overall foraging behaviour. In this study, we tested how body size influences the number, duration, and frequency of foraging episodes in heterogeneous resource patches. To this end, we performed microcosm experiments using the aquatic amphipod Gammarus insensibilis as a model organism. An experimental maze was used to simulate a habitat characterised by resource-rich, resource-poor, and empty patches und

SUBMITTER: Cozzoli F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9225974 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature