Dear colleagues, On behalf of all the authors, we are pleased to announce our in The American Naturalist:
Aarts G, Mul E, Fieberg J, Brasseur S, van Gils JA, Matthiopoulos J, Riotte-Lambert L. (2021). Individual-level memory is sufficient to create spatial segregation among neighboring colonies of central-place foragers. American Naturalist, August 2021, https://doi.org/10.1086/715014<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.1086%2F715014&data=04%7C01%7Csophie.brasseur%40wur.nl%7C86bb817404ee4784df5108d9451507b7%7C27d137e5761f4dc1af88d26430abb18f%7C0%7C0%7C637616778887694687%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=pVXiUmozRouLxQQPXgDjPkhIcLgy9yVy%2BzMsOt7unEQ%3D&reserved=0> It's a theoretical study, inspired by spatial segregation observed in tracked harbour seals, and the proposed theory may explain the spatial segregation observed in several central-place foragers, like pinnipeds. Abstract Central place foragers often segregate in space, even without signs of direct agonistic interactions. Using parsimonious individual-based simulations, we show that for species with spatial cognitive abilities, individual-level memory of resource availability can be sufficient to cause spatial segregation in the foraging ranges of colonial animals. The shapes of the foraging distributions are governed by commuting costs, the emerging distribution of depleted resources, and the fidelity of foragers to their colonies. When colony fidelity is weak and foragers can easily switch to colonies located closer to favorable foraging grounds, this leads to space partitioning with equidistant borders between neighboring colonies. In contrast, when colony fidelity is strong-for example, because larger colonies provide safety in numbers or individuals are unable to leave-it can create a regional imbalance between resource requirements and resource availability. This leads to nontrivial space-use patterns that propagate through the landscape. Interestingly, while better spatial memory creates more defined boundaries between neighboring colonies, it can lower the average intake rate of the population, suggesting a potential trade-off between an individual's attempt for increased intake and population growth rates. The full article is freely available at: https://doi.org/10.1086/715014<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.1086%2F715014&data=04%7C01%7Csophie.brasseur%40wur.nl%7C86bb817404ee4784df5108d9451507b7%7C27d137e5761f4dc1af88d26430abb18f%7C0%7C0%7C637616778887694687%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=pVXiUmozRouLxQQPXgDjPkhIcLgy9yVy%2BzMsOt7unEQ%3D&reserved=0> Regards, Geert Aarts and Sophie Brasseur Dr. Sophie M.J.M. Brasseur Marine Mammalogist tel. +31 317 487072 home +31 6 215 677 41 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
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