PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
The optimal foraging theory posits that animals aim to maximize energy intake while minimizing predation and handling costs during foraging. Most observed animal behaviour supports this theory, but occasional deviations provide insights into the ecological factors that shape foraging decisions. We tested prey-size preference using a two-choice test between different prey sizes in tokay geckos. We expected geckos to prefer larger prey and decision latencies to be longer when discrimination was more difficult and when small prey was offered. Geckos preferred larger prey when the size difference was large, although decision latency remained consistent. This aligns with prior research on sit-and-wait predators. Together with previous findings showing freezing behaviour after prey capture in tokay geckos, our findings suggest a strong influence of predator avoidance on foraging decisions opening up a new avenue for future research investigating the link between decision making and predator avoidance in tokay geckos.
摘要：
最佳觅食理论认为，动物的目标是最大程度地吸收能量，同时最大程度地减少觅食过程中的捕食和处理成本。大多数观察到的动物行为都支持这一理论，但是偶尔的偏差提供了对影响觅食决策的生态因素的见解。我们使用tokay壁虎中不同猎物大小之间的两选测试来测试猎物大小偏好。我们希望壁虎更喜欢更大的猎物，而当歧视更加困难并且提供小型猎物时，决策延迟会更长。当大小差异较大时，壁虎更喜欢较大的猎物，尽管决策延迟保持一致。这与先前关于坐着等待捕食者的研究是一致的。加上先前的发现，显示了在Tokay壁虎中捕获猎物后的冻结行为，我们的发现表明，避免捕食者对觅食决策的强烈影响，为将来研究tokay壁虎中决策与避免捕食者之间的联系开辟了一条新途径。
