9 Springer-Veriag 1981 Optimal Activity Times and Habitat Choice of Moose

• Main Author: Gary E. Belovsky
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ner; Alces alces
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.470.2559; http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/47735/442_2004_Article_BF00346984.pdf?sequence=1

Summary. A set of concepts was presented which could be used to model an animal's activity cycle and habitat choice as an optimi-zation process. The model was applied to moose (Alces alces) summer activity and its predictions were consistent with observed feeding times and habitat selections. The optimization model had a goal of maximizing daily feeding time at the least possible ner-getic cost. This goal was consistent with a foraging strategy that maximized the intake of some nutritional component, i.e. energy, protein, etc. The optimization problem, however, was bounded. Three constraints appeared to limit the goal: body temperature must be maintained within set upper and lower limits, thermal equilibrium ust be maintained over an extended period so the activity cycle strategy can be repeated and sufficient ime must be spent ruminating. Naturalists have long been aware that animals demonstrate daily