Functional Response

Pronunciation
/FUNK-shuh-nul re-SPONSS/
Category
Behavior
Plural
Functional Responses

Definition

A behavioral response of predators or parasitoids to the presence of prey, where the rate of prey consumption by a predator varies with prey density. This includes changes in searching effort and prey handling time, resulting in increased efficiency of prey capture and consumption. Learning and more active searching in the presence of prey are implicated in functional responses.

Etymology

Example

A functional response might involve a predator increasing its searching behavior when prey density is higher.

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