A cost and benefit analysis of foraging behavior in the Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus).

Abstract

Optimal foraging paradigm was evaluated in this study. Utilizing the eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) at University of Michigan Biological Station as our test model, two experiments were conducted, taking into account food preference and how handling costs affect food preference. Because increased handling time changed the trade-off between costs and benefits, food preference changed accordingly. In addition, optimal foraging of the eastern chipmunks was not occurring as a function of calories/trip and protein/trip. Any further studies could incorporate a larger sample size and a cross-comparison population.