2019/12/05 by Bowen, Carlee, Eskander, George, Lai, Brian +1
#Veromessor pergandei #fitness #food preference #foraging cost #optimal foraging theory
paper · doi:10.21973/n3pw9w
Optimal foraging behavior is exhibited when individuals in a species maximize their nutritional intake, while minimizing their energy expenditure during the foraging process. In this study, we explored the foraging behavior of Black Harvester Ants (Veromessor pergandei) to assess if their foraging habits coincided with optimal foraging theory. We observed 35 Veromessor colonies in Anza Borrego State Park in a controlled experiment where piles of large and small pumpkin and oat seeds were placed on a foraging path both near and far from the nest. We found that Veromessor preferred small seeds over large, near seeds over far, and pumpkin seeds over oat seeds. These results supported our predictions that Veromessor would collect higher value and lower cost foods, aligning with patterns predicted by optimal foraging theory. Investigating these foraging behaviors allows us to better estimate future patterns of not only Veromessor, but other foragers as well.