Behavioral Ecology: Fitness
Natural selection shapes behavior ? increase of reproductive success = fitness; balance between cost and benefit of behavior
Foraging behavior: trade-off between food energy content and cost of obtaining it ? optimal foraging theory: natural selection favors energetically most efficient strategies
predators affect foraging behavior b/c it shifts cost/benefit balance (risk of predation)
Natural selection can only lead to evolutionary changes if different behavior among individuals have a genetic basis; few studies relate foraging behavior to genetics, but some do and confirm that most successful individuals tend to have most successful offspring
Age might change optimal foraging behavior b/c over age more skills are learned, reducing costs for certain foraging patterns