Question

How do (a) cognitive constraints and (b) competing for resources affect the key assumptions of the ideal free distribution model?

Answer 1

Answer:

Ideal free distribution model: This theory has illustrated that the total number of species that will aggregate in-group living has direct proportionality to the total amount of resources available in that patch. The species distribution is mainly relies upon the availability of the resources and distribution of species in different patches minimize resource competition and increase species fitness

Cognitive constraints: Evolution of efficient sensory perception in species in different patches and higher brain size enable species in that patch for efficient food catching due to spatial memory and metacognition. Cognition improves innovation & learning to detect environmental cues for usage of tools and manufacturing due to transitive interference

Competing for resources- The competition for resources has specific effect on assumptions of the ideal free distribution model. Species in different patches have knowledge about the availability of resources and group density. Therefore, it is not going to require any energy or time to travel as “if resources are available, they will be consumed instantaneously. Foraging for food that provides too little energy for the amount of required to eat it: decreases fitness due to severe depletion of energy levels for metabolic activity so that behavioural aspects are minimized.