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Siemers, B.M.; Guettinger, R.
Prey conspicuousness can explain apparent prey selectivity
2006 Current Biology (16): 157-159
To study prey selection, ecologists compare the abundance of food resources with the actual prey spectrum; selectivity is inferred when some prey are markedly overrepresented in an animal's diet. However, the capabilities of an animal's sensory systems and the cues provided by potential prey both constrain its foraging behavior and access to food. Here we report evidence from a study of the greater mouse-eared bat (_Myotis myotis_) which supports the hypothesis that selectivity patterns can be explained in part by the specific conspicuousness of the prey to the foragers' sensory systems ('passive prey selection'). Active prey selection might come into play as a second step within the food spectrum accessible to the bats' sensory systems. We conclude that considering sensory ecology is vital for understanding mechanisms of food selection in animals.
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