Holling's Hungry Mantid Model for the Invertebrate Functional Response Considered as a Markov Process. Part O: A Survey of the Main Ideas and Results

摘要

An analytical approach to Holling's simulation model for mantid predatory behavior is proposed. Starting from a general representation as a Markov process, with a complicated state space, a series of approximations, suggested by the relative values of the various parameters are introduced. A set of coupled partial integro-differential equations from which the functional response and the variance of the total catch can be calculated are introduced. Simple explicit expressions for these quantities are given.