Beyond Selection: Optimal Ingestion Rate as a Function of Food Value

摘要: A simple model based on microphagous feeders (animals which process their food items in bulk with little chance of selecting an individual basis) has been developed to predict how ingestion rate should vary quality if the net time gain some measure quality, say energy, is be maximized. Three variants were considered, absorption efficiency (1) was constant, (2) decreased linearly increased rate, or (3) exponentially. The optimal maximized energy gain, depended and higher foods. For certain parameter values, constantly maintaining maximum resulted maximal gain. Experimental results from literature a variety animals are not consistent accord these predictions. It seems likely that uncontrolled confounding variables, such as composition palatability, may obscure effects ...