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Summary: Optimal tempo and defence for consumers
of multiple resources
Adam Kay
1
* and Frederick R. Adler
1,2
1
Department of Biology and
2
Department of Mathematics, University of Utah,
Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
ABSTRACT
Ecological models of behaviour are typically based on the assumption that decisions can be
evaluated with a single resource currency. Here we present models that predict the tactics of
consumers collecting two nutritionally distinct resources: fuel that is used for activity and food
used for growth (F4G). Both models assume that foragers seek to maximize F4G gain subject to
collecting enough fuel for activity. Our first model determines the optimal tempos of foraging
for each resource. While foraging for fuel, consumers use and collect the same resource and
optimal behaviour is identical to the predictions of a single resource model. However, because
consumers use fuel to acquire F4G, they are predicted to work harder to acquire F4G when fuel
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