8 Optimal diet theory predicts that animals should choose

Last updated: 3/4/2023

8 Optimal diet theory predicts that animals should choose prey that maximize the difference between energy obtained per unit and the cost of acquisition For example shorebirds foraging on snails should choose medium sized prey over both small prey too little energy content to justify the handling time required to crack the shell and large prey high energy content but requires much more energy to crack the shell In the field shorebirds do eat mostly medium sized snails but they are also observed eating both smaller and larger snails as well albeit at lower frequencies Explain two reasons why the birds might depart from the optimal diet theory prediction in this way