Adaptive experimental design produces superior and more efficient estimates of predator functional response.

Ecological dynamics are strongly influenced by the relationship between prey density and predator feeding behavior-that is, the predatory functional response. A useful understanding of this relationship requires us to distinguish between competing models of the functional response, and to robustly e...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nikos E Papanikolaou, Hayden Moffat, Argyro Fantinou, Dionysios P Perdikis, Michael Bode, Christopher Drovandi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2023-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0288445&type=printable
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849388827625390080
author Nikos E Papanikolaou
Hayden Moffat
Argyro Fantinou
Dionysios P Perdikis
Michael Bode
Christopher Drovandi
author_facet Nikos E Papanikolaou
Hayden Moffat
Argyro Fantinou
Dionysios P Perdikis
Michael Bode
Christopher Drovandi
author_sort Nikos E Papanikolaou
collection DOAJ
description Ecological dynamics are strongly influenced by the relationship between prey density and predator feeding behavior-that is, the predatory functional response. A useful understanding of this relationship requires us to distinguish between competing models of the functional response, and to robustly estimate the model parameters. Recent advances in this topic have revealed bias in model comparison, as well as in model parameter estimation in functional response studies, mainly attributed to the quality of data. Here, we propose that an adaptive experimental design framework can mitigate these challenges. We then present the first practical demonstration of the improvements it offers over standard experimental design. Our results reveal that adaptive design can efficiently identify the preferred functional response model among the competing models, and can produce much more precise posterior distributions for the estimated functional response parameters. By increasing the efficiency of experimentation, adaptive experimental design will lead to reduced logistical burden.
format Article
id doaj-art-cf8223d95ed1488094f8d36302b0ae6a
institution Kabale University
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2023-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-cf8223d95ed1488094f8d36302b0ae6a2025-08-20T03:42:09ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032023-01-01187e028844510.1371/journal.pone.0288445Adaptive experimental design produces superior and more efficient estimates of predator functional response.Nikos E PapanikolaouHayden MoffatArgyro FantinouDionysios P PerdikisMichael BodeChristopher DrovandiEcological dynamics are strongly influenced by the relationship between prey density and predator feeding behavior-that is, the predatory functional response. A useful understanding of this relationship requires us to distinguish between competing models of the functional response, and to robustly estimate the model parameters. Recent advances in this topic have revealed bias in model comparison, as well as in model parameter estimation in functional response studies, mainly attributed to the quality of data. Here, we propose that an adaptive experimental design framework can mitigate these challenges. We then present the first practical demonstration of the improvements it offers over standard experimental design. Our results reveal that adaptive design can efficiently identify the preferred functional response model among the competing models, and can produce much more precise posterior distributions for the estimated functional response parameters. By increasing the efficiency of experimentation, adaptive experimental design will lead to reduced logistical burden.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0288445&type=printable
spellingShingle Nikos E Papanikolaou
Hayden Moffat
Argyro Fantinou
Dionysios P Perdikis
Michael Bode
Christopher Drovandi
Adaptive experimental design produces superior and more efficient estimates of predator functional response.
PLoS ONE
title Adaptive experimental design produces superior and more efficient estimates of predator functional response.
title_full Adaptive experimental design produces superior and more efficient estimates of predator functional response.
title_fullStr Adaptive experimental design produces superior and more efficient estimates of predator functional response.
title_full_unstemmed Adaptive experimental design produces superior and more efficient estimates of predator functional response.
title_short Adaptive experimental design produces superior and more efficient estimates of predator functional response.
title_sort adaptive experimental design produces superior and more efficient estimates of predator functional response
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0288445&type=printable
work_keys_str_mv AT nikosepapanikolaou adaptiveexperimentaldesignproducessuperiorandmoreefficientestimatesofpredatorfunctionalresponse
AT haydenmoffat adaptiveexperimentaldesignproducessuperiorandmoreefficientestimatesofpredatorfunctionalresponse
AT argyrofantinou adaptiveexperimentaldesignproducessuperiorandmoreefficientestimatesofpredatorfunctionalresponse
AT dionysiospperdikis adaptiveexperimentaldesignproducessuperiorandmoreefficientestimatesofpredatorfunctionalresponse
AT michaelbode adaptiveexperimentaldesignproducessuperiorandmoreefficientestimatesofpredatorfunctionalresponse
AT christopherdrovandi adaptiveexperimentaldesignproducessuperiorandmoreefficientestimatesofpredatorfunctionalresponse