McNamara John M, Barta Zoltan, Houston Alasdair I, Race Philip
School of Mathematics, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TW, UK.
Proc Biol Sci. 2005 May 7;272(1566):929-34. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2004.3037.
Data show that when small birds are exposed to a model of a predator, their body mass may either increase or decrease. Although attempts have been made to explain the data using previous models, these models are based on a constant level of predation and hence are not appropriate for making predictions about the response of a bird to the sight of a predator. We have developed a novel model that includes encounters between a bird and potential predators. We show that, depending on the biology of the predator, optimal body mass may either increase or decrease. The model also makes predictions about the foraging behaviour of the bird after it has seen a predator.
数据显示，当小型鸟类接触到捕食者模型时，它们的体重可能会增加或减少。尽管已经尝试使用先前的模型来解释这些数据，但这些模型基于恒定的捕食水平，因此不适用于预测鸟类对捕食者出现的反应。我们开发了一种新模型，该模型包括鸟类与潜在捕食者之间的相遇情况。我们表明，根据捕食者的生物学特性，最佳体重可能会增加或减少。该模型还对鸟类看到捕食者后的觅食行为做出了预测。
