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5 - Feeding ecology in the natural world
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- By Laurie J. Vitt, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and Zoology Department University of Oklahoma, Eric R. Pianka, Section of Integrative Biology School of Biological Sciences University of Texas at Austin
- Edited by Stephen M. Reilly, Ohio University, Lance B. McBrayer, Georgia Southern University, Donald B. Miles, Ohio University
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- Book:
- Lizard Ecology
- Published online:
- 04 August 2010
- Print publication:
- 12 July 2007, pp 141-172
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- Chapter
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Summary
Introduction
Foraging mode, originally defined on the basis of clear differences in behaviors used to find and capture prey (MacArthur and Pianka, 1966; Pianka, 1966; Schoener, 1971) has become a central paradigm in lizard ecology (see, for example, Huey and Pianka, 1981; Vitt and Congdon, 1978; Cooper, 1994a, b, 1995a, b; Perry, 1999; Perry and Pianka, 1997; Perry et al., 1990). Sit-and-wait (often referred to as “ambush”) foragers pursue prey detected visually from short distances, often returning to the same perch after capturing a prey item. Wide (often referred to as “active”) foragers move through the environment in search of prey that are often hidden, using a combination of visual and chemical cues to locate and discriminate prey. Trade-offs between energy invested in capture versus search for these two foraging modes are key elements of optimal foraging theory (MacArthur and Pianka, 1966; Charnov, 1976; Kamil, 1983). Identification of this foraging dichotomy has stimulated lizard research in many areas, including ecology, behavior, life histories, and physiology, to mention a few.
The foraging mode paradigm is much more complex than previously envisioned, as evidenced by research presented in other chapters in this book. For example, what appeared to be a sharp historical separation of foraging modes (see, for example, Pianka and Vitt, 2003; Vitt et al., 2003) is replete with exceptions embedded in major clades, suggesting either loss of or multiple origins of traits often linked to foraging mode (see, for example, Cooper, 1997; Cooper et al., 1997).
Historical introduction: on widely foraging for Kalahari lizards
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- By Raymond B. Huey, Department of Zoology University of Washington, Eric R. Pianka, Department of Zoology University of Texas
- Edited by Stephen M. Reilly, Ohio University, Lance B. McBrayer, Georgia Southern University, Donald B. Miles, Ohio University
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- Book:
- Lizard Ecology
- Published online:
- 04 August 2010
- Print publication:
- 12 July 2007, pp 1-10
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- Chapter
- Export citation
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Summary
This book shows that the field of foraging biology of reptiles is alive and well. We find this exciting, as we've been interested in this field for four decades. No doubt for that reason, we've been asked to describe the history of our thinking about foraging modes. How did we become involved? What were some of the salient experiences we had, and what insights of others helped channel our thinking?
When Eric began studying US desert lizards in the early 1960s, he immediately noted that the teiid Cnemidophorus moved much more than did all species of iguanids. This lizard world was clearly dichotomous in terms of foraging behavior. In his 1966 paper in Ecology, Eric coined the terms “sit-and-wait” (hereafter SW) and “widely foraging” (hereafter WF) to characterize these different behaviors.
Ray's interest in foraging behavior evolved independently about the same time. As an undergraduate at UC Berkeley in the spring of 1965, he took Natural History of the Vertebrates (taught by R. C. Stebbins and others). Students were required to do a field project: Ray studied the feeding behavior of great blue herons. In his term paper (Huey, 1965), he noted that herons “… use two distinct types of hunting whether on land or in water – stalking and still hunting.” Further, he observed that herons hunting in estuaries will switch to “still hunting” when the tide is coming in, letting the moving water bring food to the birds.