Meeting Abstract

P3.8A  Sunday, Jan. 6  Foraging in a nutritionally complex world: tests using agent-based models and locusts CLARK, X*; CLISSOLD, FJ; CHARLESTON, MA; SIMPSON, SJ; University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; University of Sydney, NSW, Australia ximonie.clark@sydney.edu.au

Animals face challenges of matching the demand for obtaining multiple nutrients from the environment or suffering fitness costs. Two general herbivore foraging strategies are defined by the degree to which herbivores consume foods that deviate in composition from their optimal balance of nutrients. Nutrient generalists consume various foods that differ largely in nutrient content from their intake target, whereas specialists eat foods very similar to that required. The strategy herbivores adopt depends on dietary history; however, behavioural plasticity allows animals to optimise fitness in variable environments. This study aimed to investigate whether nutritional environments encountered alter the foraging strategy of the nutrient specialist, Locusta migratoria. Simulating the fitness outcomes for each foraging strategy using an agent-based model indicates, for the nutrient generalist strategy, that the best fitness is produced by increasing consumption of a highly imbalanced food when encountered at high frequencies. Furthermore, the nutrient specialist does not benefit by increasing consumption of highly imbalanced foods. A laboratory experiment using L. migratoria, was conducted to determine the conditions under which the locusts shifted from a specialist to a generalist. After being subjected to temporal variations of highly imbalanced foods, L. migratoria adopted a more generalist strategy. Through a combined experimental and modeling approach we have shown that L. migratoria can adjust foraging behaviour to better suit their specific environment and likely maximise fitness.