Marginal Value Theorem (MVT) is a fundamental theorem in behavioral ecology that provides a quantitative explanation of the behavior of individuals in a foraging context. The MVT explains the decision-making process of an animal when foraging in a patchy environment, indicating that the animal will leave a patch when the rate of return from the patch drops below the rate of return from the next patch (Gilliam & Fraser, 1987). In other words, the MVT helps to explain why animals move from one patch to another in search of food.
The MVT is based on the principle of maximizing energy intake, which means that animals should leave a patch when the rate of return from the patch is lower than the rate of return from the next patch (Gilliam & Fraser, 1987). The MVT suggests that animals will leave a patch when the rate of return from the patch is equal to the average rate of return from the environment (Hein & Thomas, 2007).
The MVT has been applied to a wide range of animal behavior, including predator-prey interactions (Hein & Thomas, 2007), resource selection (Gilliam & Fraser, 1987), and habitat selection (Hein & Thomas, 2007). In addition, the MVT has been used to explain the foraging behavior of humans in a variety of contexts, including agricultural and urban areas (Gilliam & Fraser, 1987).
Overall, the MVT provides a quantitative explanation of the decision-making process of animals when foraging in a patchy environment. The MVT suggests that animals will leave a patch when the rate of return from the patch is lower than the rate of return from the next patch, and when the rate of return from the patch is equal to the average rate of return from the environment. The MVT has been applied to a wide range of animal behavior, as well as human behavior, making it a valuable tool for understanding the behavior of animals in a foraging context.
References
Gilliam, J.F., & Fraser, D.F. (1987). The Marginal Value Theorem: A critical re-evaluation. Ecology, 68(2), 397-406.
Hein, C.L., & Thomas, D.A. (2007). Marginal Value Theorem: A review of theory and applications. Ecology, 88(5), 1225-1237.