Question

1. In this question, circle the best answer within the parentheses. FR = functional response.

a. Compare search time: FR 1(> / = / <) FR 3.

b. Compare handling time: FR 1 (> / = / <) FR 2.

c. Which portion of the type 2 functional response isinfluenced by search time (low prey density/ high prey density), and handling time (low prey density / high prey density)?

2. One mechanism suggested to maintain biodiversity is that a species has relatively high performance when it is rare (regardless of environmental factors). Which functional responsewould help maintain biodiversity in this way? _________

3. For animals, tradeoffs may exist between foraging and predator avoidance, because time spent being vigilant against predators is time lost from feeding. Based on the principle of allocation, and considering ways that plants avoid herbivores, describe a tradeoff for plants.

Answer 1

1.b) in FR type1 the Number of prey eaten by a predator is directly proportional to the prey density. Handling time is the time required to do all the activities carryin the prey to the predators location, cleaning it , eating and digesting the prey. This is the time required before the next capture. If this time is longer it will become a limiting factor when the prey density increases.In FR type 2 ,the handling time is longer hence the capture rate comes down compared to FR type1.

1.a) the search time in type 3 is abehavioural response in predator when the prey is a rare kind of animal. So the predator needs to increase thier search time in this type of response.

1.c) predators spend more time searching for food at low prey density and spends more time handling the food when the prey is abundant in number, this form of functional response is type 2.

2) Typre 2 functional response shows that predators perform well in capturing prey when the prey density is less, and this performance comes down when the prey density increases. So in this type of functional response the predator maintains biodiversity by keeping a check in the prey population when the prey density is low.