Optimal pursuit times: How long should predators pursue their prey? (Q1820730)

Data suggest that the length of time that a predator pursues a given prey is both variable and adjustable. We present an extension of the optimal diet model that incorporates adjustable pursuit times to predict how long predators should pursue their prey. The model makes three significant contributions. 1. When the density of good prey is increased, poor prey should gradually disappear from the diet. 2. Depending on how the encounter rates with prey are varied, the model generates patterns of frequency-dependent and inverse frequency-dependent foraging. 3. The density of poor prey can influence the proportion captured of more valuable prey.