A memory-based foraging tactic reveals an adaptive mechanism for restricted space use

Merkle, J. A., Fortin, D. and Morales, J. M. (2014) A memory-based foraging tactic reveals an adaptive mechanism for restricted space use. Ecology Letters, 17(8), pp. 924-931. (doi: 10.1111/ele.12294) (PMID:24811575)

Abstract

The restricted area of space used by most mobile animals is thought to result from fitness-rewarding decisions derived from gaining information about the environment. Yet, assessments of how animals deal with uncertainty using memory have been largely theoretical, and an empirically derived mechanism explaining restricted space use in animals is still lacking. Using a patch-to-patch movement analysis, we investigated predictions of how free-ranging bison (Bison bison) living in a meadow-forest matrix use memory to reduce uncertainty in energy intake rate. Results indicate that bison remembered pertinent information about location and quality of meadows, and they used this information to selectively move to meadows of higher profitability. Moreover, bison chose profitable meadows they had previously visited, and this choice was stronger after visiting a relatively poor quality meadow. Our work demonstrates a link between memory, energy gains and restricted space use while establishing a fitness-based integration of movement, cognitive and spatial ecology.

• Item Type: Articles (Letter)
• Additional Information: Funding was provided by Parks Canada, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and Universite Laval.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Morales, Professor Juan
• Authors: Merkle, J. A., Fortin, D., and Morales, J. M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Ecology Letters
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 1461-023X
• ISSN (Online): 1461-0248

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