ISSN:
1440-1703
Keywords:
Functional response curve
;
Instantaneous rate of attack
;
Parasitism
;
Predation
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract A generalized descriptive equation for the effect of prey density on the instantaneous rate of attack was proposed; $$A(N_0 ) = \frac{{T_t }}{{t_h + 1/\left[ {a'N_0 \exp (cN_0 )} \right]}}$$ whereA(N o ) is the number of attacks per predator during timeT t ,N o is the prey density,T t is the total time the prey was exposed,T h is the handling time per prey,a′ is the rate of successful search, andc is the facilitation coefficient. The proposed equation can describe all types of the functional response curves; withc=a′ t h (pseudo Type I), withc=0 (Type II), withc〉a′ t h (Type III), and withc〈0 (Type IV). The applicability of the equation was tested against the results of a simulation model and available laboratory and field data on predation. The equation described these data very well and in many cases yielded biologically interesting insights, although the equation was proposed primarily for descriptive purposes.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02347017
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