Group Foraging: The Skill Pool Effect and Frequency-Dependent Learning

It is hypothesized that mixed-species foraging aggregations provide each individual with a wider range of food items as a result of social learning and the diversity of foraging specializations among species (Krebs 1973). I hypothesize that the skill pool effect should provide similar benefits to single-species foraging groups without social learning. The skill pool occurs when different foraging specialists join the discoveries of others. While providing an increased range of food items, it permits increased individual foraging efficiency through specialization. When individual learning is important in the development of foraging behaviors, it should generate frequency-dependent effects which promote individual specializations favoring the occurrence of skill pools. From the skill pool effect several ecological and behavioral predictions are generated that require more attention to comparisons of individual diets and behaviors inside and outside foraging groups.

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