The optimal foraging theory (OFT) is a behavioral network model that predicts how an animal will act when looking for food. It states that although eating gives the animal energy, hunting for and acquiring food takes energy and time. To increase fitness, an animal uses a foraging method that offers the most benefit for the least cost, maximizing the net energy obtained (Pyke, 2019). OFT predicts the ideal strategy for an animal to use to achieve this goal. When modeling foraging behavior using OFT, organisms are said to be maximizing a variable known as the currency, such as the most food per unit of time.
Furthermore, environmental constraints are variables that must be considered when discussing foraging. Constraints are described as elements that can limit the ability of the forager to maximize the currency (Pyke, 2019). The optimal choice rule, often known as the organism’s best foraging strategy, is defined as the decision that maximizes currency under environmental restrictions.
OFT is supported by evidence from several species. One example is the strategy for eating among birds. Birds metabolize fats and oils quickly, thereby stoking on high-energy foods such as safflower and sunflower seeds, which are essential to their health. Black oil sunflower seeds provide the most energy per pound of any typical bird seed. They are easiest for most birds to eat since they have thin shells. At the same time, the Safflower seeds provide the highest protein content than any other seed. However, they are hard for some birds to eat since they have thick shells that are hard to crack open. Therefore, the hypothesis of this experiment is to test if birds make conscious decisions depending on the amount of energy necessary to collect food or the nutritional value of the seeds. For example, this experiment will determine if house sparrows pick black oil sunflower because of its nutritional value or the energy required to consume it.
Reference
Pyke, G. (2019). Animal movements: an optimal foraging approach. In Encyclopedia of animal behavior (pp. 149-156). Elsevier Academic Press. Web.