Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
A number of factors can drive predator group formation. I examined how access to prey and sharing of prey among group members can drive the formation of groups and optimal group size in predator populations. I will present a model describing the costs and benefits of group formation and a criterion for the optimization of predator fitness. The model predicts a power-law scaling relationship between group size and predator density. Finally, implications on trophic dynamics will be discussed.
Group size scaling in social predators
A number of factors can drive predator group formation. I examined how access to prey and sharing of prey among group members can drive the formation of groups and optimal group size in predator populations. I will present a model describing the costs and benefits of group formation and a criterion for the optimization of predator fitness. The model predicts a power-law scaling relationship between group size and predator density. Finally, implications on trophic dynamics will be discussed.
