Ecological Interactions: Testing Prey Distribution Patterns

 

Jane Beiswenger

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 1994, Volume 15

Abstract

At the 1991 ABLE workshop/conference, Christopher Smith (Kansas State University) presented an interesting laboratory activity entitled Testing Issues of Foraging and Flocking Behavior in which students assume the role of predators (Smith, 1992, 1993). Smith’s activity tests the effects of habitat type, repetition, exclusive use, cryptic coloration, and competition. The exercise described here is modeled after Smith’s but differs in that it tests the effects of three different prey distribution patterns on foraging efficiency and is intended for use on a university campus in a 2-hour laboratory period. Uniform, random, and clumped patterns are used. The uniform pattern serves as a control because the chance of finding any one of the prey items is equal. Prior to the activity the students are asked to predict which of the other two patterns will be the most conducive to food procurement and which will be the least.

Keywords:  predator-prey interactions

University of Toronto (1993)