Success-biased social learning in a one-consumer, two-resource model

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Ecology
• Evolutionary Game Theory
• Population Dynamics

Background:

• Previous models suggested social learning is unlikely to evolve in predator-prey interactions.
• Foragers face challenges in acquiring accurate information about depletable resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if success-biased social learning can evolve in a predator-prey system.
• To analyze the impact of social learning on foraging behavior and resource exploitation.

Main Methods:

• Developed two models of a one-predator, two-prey system with success-biased social learning.
• Modeled individual learning with and without dependence on resource dynamics.

Main Results:

• Social learning did not lead to over-harvesting of specific prey types.
• Increased social learning probability enhanced the acquisition of successful foraging strategies, particularly when individual learning was unreliable.
• Social learning evolved in the model where learning depended on resource frequency.

Conclusions:

• Success-biased social learning can evolve in predator-prey systems under specific conditions.
• Social learning can improve foraging efficiency and prevent skewed resource exploitation.
• Resource-dependent learning dynamics are crucial for the evolution of social learning in this context.