Stochastic dynamics of social patch foraging decisions
Subekshya Bidari, Ahmed El Hady, Jacob Davidson, and Zachary P, Kilpatrick

TL;DR
This paper introduces a mechanistic model of social patch foraging that incorporates stochastic evidence accumulation and different communication modes, revealing how social information sharing influences foraging efficiency.
Contribution
It develops a novel model of group foraging behavior with pulsatile and diffusive communication, enabling analysis of their effects on efficiency and robustness.
Findings
Pulsatile coupling's efficiency depends strongly on coupling strength.
Diffusive coupling is more robust to parameter variations.
Model can distinguish communication modes and fit real animal data.
Abstract
Animals typically forage in groups. Social foraging can help animals avoid predation and decrease their uncertainty about the richness of food resources. Despite this, theoretical mechanistic models of patch foraging have overwhelmingly focused on the behavior of single foragers. In this study, we develop a mechanistic model describing the behavior of individuals foraging together and departing food patches following an evidence accumulation process. Each individual's belief about patch quality is represented by a stochastically accumulating variable coupled to others' belief, representing the transfer of information. We consider a cohesive group, and model information sharing as either intermittent pulsatile coupling (communicate decision to leave) or continuous diffusive coupling (communicate online belief). Foraging efficiency under pulsatile coupling has a stronger dependence on the…
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Taxonomy
TopicsAnimal Behavior and Reproduction · Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation · Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
