Optimal Foraging Theory Paper

Ecologists study the cost benefit trade-offs for animals to acquire resources. The collective idea of what factors effect animals acquiring resources is referred to as the Optimal Foraging Theory. Regardless of the species, optimal fitness requires all organisms to follow a fundamental guideline to foraging: Minimize time and energy costs, and maximize energy gained (Shoener 1971). Organism foraging behavior does not exist in a vacuum, many factors influence how an animal forages such as environmental weather conditions, food availability, and predator presence (Shoener 1971). According to the marginal value theorem, animals must find their food among patches (charnov 1976). Patches are scattered around the habitat, and all patches are not of the same food quality (charnov 1976). Predators must use energy to find patches, as well as expend energy handling the food inside the patches (charnov 1976). The marginal value

While sodium is very important to animals, it can be very rare in ecosystems that are isolated from oceanic salt influence (Belovsky and Jordan 1981). For animals in these ecosystems to acquire the sodium they need, they must consume vast amounts of sodium poor vegetation or utilize natural salt deposits (Belovsky and Jordan 1981). Though salt is essential to the functioning of normal animal physiology, too much salt can also be bad for the animal. It is well researched that excess salt in the bloodstream can raise blood pressure by causing hypertension. This was supported in an experiment performed on rats by giving high amounts of salt after they were weaned, resulting in sensitive individuals developing high blood pressure. (Lewis et. al 1962). Many ecosystems like woodland forests are especially devoid of sodium. In these ecosystems, animals must have adaptations to find the salt they