Berec, L.
2003
Simultaneous prey encounters by optimally foraging predators: theory and experiments
Comments on Theoretical Biology 8:1-36
Abstract: This article reviews work on predators encountering prey simultaneously in a fine-grained environment. Such a study seems timely as despite the fact that simultaneous encounters abound in nature, research on sequential encounters still predominates. After reviewing relevant models of optimal foraging theory, I comment on experiments that involved simultaneous encounters. Unfortunately, these studies are so diverse that any conclusive statement supporting the theory is still premature. Studies of population-dynamic consequences of optimal foragers facing simultaneous encounters are briefly presented. This area awaits more extensive theoretical research. I also touch on the future of optimal foraging theory in general and work on simultaneous encounters in particular.