Dissertation Research: Age-Structured Foraging Models for a Diving Mammal: Incorporating Developmental Constraints into Habitat Use Decisions

虽然这看起来似乎是一个简单的选择问题，但喂养是一个复杂的事件，有许多潜在的权衡。目前的理论预测，觅食的目的至少是传授知识，以最大限度地适应和繁殖。然而，要做到这一点，一个人不仅必须获得食物，还必须避免成本，比如被吃掉。这意味着觅食涉及到重大的权衡。因此，为了理解这些类型的取舍，有必要在生态、发育、生理和行为条件的更广泛的背景下检查喂养。幼年动物与成年动物有不同的技能，也可能有不同的限制。这项研究的目标是开发一个模型，利用不同年龄段的海獭的潜水能力、栖息地和觅食行为的数据来解决这些因素。这些数据不涉及对海獭的直接操纵，而是依赖于使用从美国地质调查局获得的数据，美国地质调查局已经对海獭进行了标记。这项研究的结果将更广泛地应用于其他物种的一般觅食模型，并将提供可用于保护和管理海獭的栖息地要求的实用信息。结果也将通过蒙特利湾水族馆向公众公布。

While it may seem like a matter of simple choices, feeding is a complex event with many potential trade-offs. Current theory predicts that the goal of foraging is at least impart to maximize fitness, reproduction. However, to do this an individual must not only obtain food it must also avoid cost, such as being eaten itself. This means that foraging involves significant trade-offs. Therefore, to understand these types of trade-offs it is necessary to examine feeding within the boarder contexts of ecological, developments, and physiologically, as well as, behavioral conditions. Young animals have different skills than adults, and also they may have different constraints. The goal of this study is to develop a model that can address these factors using the data on diving capacity, habitat, and foraging behavior across different age groups of sea otters. The data do not involve direct manipulation of sea otters, instead they rely on using data being obtained form the US Geological Survey that has tagged sea otters already. The results form this research should have boarder application to general foraging models for other species and will provide practical information on habitat requirements that can be used in the conservation and management of sea otters. The results will also be made available to the public through the Monterey Bay Aquarium.