Abstract
A series of experiments was run to examine the influence of sex, patch quality, and travel time on foraging decisions by young adult humans. Subjects were required to gather sultanas arranged at two different densities on artificial bushes. Female subjects spent less time at a bush (patch) than did males and picked sultanas at a greater rate. Female subjects increased residence time as density and travel time increased as predicted by McNair [ American Naturalist 119: 511–529 (1982)]. Giving up time decreased with increasing patch quality but remained unaffected by travel time. Predictions for the habitat rate of picking were calculated assuming either residence time or giving-up time rules of thumb. A comparison of these with observed habitat rates indicated that the subjects were most likely to be using the residence time rule. Mostly, subjects employed a residence time longer than that required to produce the maximum habitat rate. The asymmetry of the reward curve may explain the overshoot.
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