Includes bibliographical references (pages 267-285) and index
Ch. 1. The Basics -- Introduction: Biology, constraints and trade-offs -- An example: Formalizing constraints and trade-offs -- A brief digression on probability -- The algorithm of stochastic dynamic programming -- Computer implementation -- Evaluating the fitness of alternative strategies -- Developing a dynamic state variable model -- A model for feeding by the three-spined stickleback -- The role of dynamic state variable models in ecology -- Examples of projects -- Appendix: Rate-maximizing theories of diet selection and habitat choice -- Ch. 2. Some Details of Technique -- Linear interpolation -- Sequential coupling -- Forward iteration and Monte Carlo simulation -- The critical level of reserves -- Environmental state variables -- Errors in decisions -- Variable constraints -- Functional forms -- Ch. 3. Using the Model -- Levels of detail in model predictions -- Comparing models and data -- Obtaining and analyzing predictions -- Sensitivity analysis -- Suboptimality analysis -- Ch. 4. Oviposition Behavior of Insect Parasitoids -- Parasitoid life histories -- Fixed clutch models -- A dynamic but state-independent model -- The proovigenic parasitoid -- The synovigenic parasitoid: Eggs and reserves -- Discussion -- Ch. 5. Winter Survival Strategies -- Foraging and fattening strategies for willow tits -- Social interaction -- Experiments suggested by the model -- Models of hoarding behavior -- Long-term hoarding -- Overwinter foraging by juvenile salmon -- A state variable model for overwinter lipid dynamics -- Emirical test of the predictions -- Ch. 6. Avian Migration -- The energetics of bird migration -- Optimal fuel loads -- A dynamic state variable model of single-flight migration -- Spring migration of western sandpipers -- Ch. 7. Human Behavioral Ecology -- Dynamic discarding in fisheries -- Optimal reproductive strategies in!kung bushmen females -- Ch. 8. Conservation Biology -- Assessing the fitness consequences of environmental change -- Using fire rotation schemes to maximize the persistence of midsuccessional species -- Managing a metapopulation -- Some other applications -- Ch. 9. Agroecology -- Behavioral origins of the functional response -- Behavior and population regulation: The behavioral stabilization of host-parasitoid interactions -- Weed control: Predicting flowering in thistles and other monocarpic perennials -- Discussion -- Ch. 10. Population-Level Models -- Ideal free distributions -- Patch choice with frequency-dependent predation risk -- Genetic algorithms as optimization tools -- Ch. 11. Stochasticity, Uncertainty, and Information as a State Variable -- Ephemeral patches and uncertain food -- A Bayesian foraging model -- Tracking a changing environment -- Discussion -- Appendix: Bayesian updating -- Ch. 12. Measures of Fitness -- Nonoverlapping generations -- Overlapping generations -- Fitness measures in dynamic state variable models