Food caching is a behavior in which an animal stores food for later consumption. This behavior is commonly seen in species of mammals, birds, fishes, and invertebrates, including humans. It is thought to have evolved as a means of ensuring a reliable food supply in times of scarcity or unpredictable food availability (Croft et al., 2020).
Food caching can be divided into two main types: larder caching, in which food is stored in a single location, and scatter hoarding, in which food is stored in multiple locations (Croft et al., 2020). In larder caching, animals typically store food in one area; for example, squirrels store nuts in a single cache. Scatter hoarding, on the other hand, involves the storage of food in multiple locations; for example, jays store acorns in multiple caches.
Food caching has been found to be advantageous for animals in a variety of ways. For one, it allows animals to store food for later use when food is scarce or unpredictable (Croft et al., 2020). This helps to ensure a reliable food supply, which can be beneficial for survival. Additionally, food caching can save animals energy, as they do not have to expend energy to search for food every day (Ryder et al., 2018). Finally, food caching can provide protection from predators, as animals can hide their caches from potential predators (Ryder et al., 2018).
Despite the advantages of food caching, it is not without its drawbacks. For one, animals may forget where they stored their caches, leading to loss of food (Ryder et al., 2018). Additionally, caches can be found and stolen by other animals, leading to a decrease in the amount of food available to the animal (Ryder et al., 2018).
In conclusion, food caching is a behavior seen in a variety of species, including humans. It has been found to be advantageous in a variety of ways, such as providing a reliable food supply and saving energy. However, it is not without its drawbacks, such as the potential for loss or theft of caches.
References
Croft, D.P., Siemers, B.M., Kacelnik, A., & Clayton, N.S. (2020). The cognitive ecology of food caching: Adaptations, strategies, and future research directions. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 375(1797), 20190187.
Ryder, T.B., Derdikman, D., & Kacelnik, A. (2018). The ecology and evolution of food caching. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 33(7), 544-556.