The theoretical value of encounters with parasitized hosts for parasitoids |
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Authors: | Munjong Kolss Thomas S Hoffmeister Lia Hemerik |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland;(2) Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Bremen, FB 02, Leobener Str. NW2, 28359 Bremen, Germany;(3) Biometris, Department of Mathematical and Statistical Methods, University of Wageningen, P.O. Box 100, 6700 AC Wageningen, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | A female parasitoid searching for hosts in a patch experiences a diminishing encounter rate with unparasitized and thus suitable hosts. To use the available time most efficiently, it constantly has to decide whether to stay in the patch and continue to search for hosts or to search for and travel to another patch in the habitat. Several informational cues can be used to optimize the searching success. Theoretically, encounters with unparasitized hosts should lead to a prolonged search in a given patch if hosts are distributed contagiously. The results of empirical studies strongly support this hypothesis. However, it has, to date, not been investigated theoretically whether encounters with already parasitized hosts (which usually entail time costs) provide a parasitoid with valuable information for the optimization of its search in depletable patches, although the empirical studies concerning this question so far have produced ambiguous results. Building on recent advances in Bayesian foraging strategies, we approached this problem by modeling a priori searching strategies (which differ in the amount of information considered) and then testing them in computer simulations. By comparing the strategies, we were able to determine whether and how encounters with already parasitized hosts can yield information that can be used to enhance a parasitoid’s searching success. |
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Keywords: | Parasitoid Optimal foraging Patch time allocation Bayesian updating Searching strategy Stochastic model |
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