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Abrams, P.A.
Why predation rate should not be proportional to predator density
1993 Ecology (74): 726-733
In most mathematical models of population dynamics in ecological communities, the death rate of prey species is a linearly increasing function of the density of their predator(s). If antipredatory behaviour is incorporated into such models it becomes very unlikely that prey death rate is a linear function of predator density. In addition, it is possible for the prey death rate to decrease, rather than increase, as a function of the population density of its predator. Decreasing predation rates may be common when the prey organism is attempting to accumulate resources for growth or reproduction. Decreasing predation rates are less likely when the prey organism is attempting to minimize mortality. These results and earlier ones on indirect effects generated by optimal foraging suggest that higher order interactions should be extremely common in natural communities.
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