Behavioral Ecology
Optimal Foraging Theory
A framework for predicting foraging behavior based on the assumption that natural selection favors strategies that maximize energy gain per unit time. Foragers should make decisions that optimize their net energy intake.
Biological Context
The theory predicts diet choice (which prey to pursue), patch use (when to leave depleting resources), and movement patterns (how to search). Real animals often match theoretical predictions, suggesting evolution has tuned behavior for efficiency.
Business Application
Optimal foraging theory applies to business resource allocation: which opportunities to pursue, when to abandon depleting markets, how to allocate search effort. The framework helps quantify trade-offs between investment and return.