Gillings, S. 2004. Prey detectability: significance and measurement using a novel laser pen technique. Wader Study Group Bulletin 103: 50-55

Abstract

Understanding foraging behaviour requires measurement of three aspects of prey: abundance, availability and detectability. Few techniques exist for measuring detectability on the appropriate scale and many models subsume variation in detectability within availability. However, there is great potential for detectability to differ markedly between patches with the same prey distribution. This paper describes a new method using a laser pen to simulate prey detection under field conditions in order to determine how small-scale variation in soil surface topography, crop type and crop growth might affect foraging behaviour of Northern Lapwings Vanellus vanellus on arable fields.

 

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