​Consider a predator that can forage on two prey types, where Prey1 is the more profitable prey and Prey2 is the less profitable prey. While searching for Prey1, if it encounters Prey2, the decision to capture Prey2 or ignore it and continue to search for Prey1 is given by the predictions of the Optimal Foraging Theory (OFT). The table below gives various parameters that may be used as per OFT by the predator in making this foraging decision.​

​Which one of the following statements predicts correctly when the predator should eat Prey2, given the conditions above?​

Correct option is B

EXPLANATION-

A predator will choose to accept or reject Prey₂ based on whether it provides more energy per unit time than waiting for and handling Prey₁.

The decision rule (based on profitability) is:

Accept Prey₂ if:          $$\frac{E_2}{h_2} > \frac{E_1}{h_1 + S_1}$$

The predator should eat Prey₂ only if the average energy gain rate for including Prey₂ is higher than that for specializing on Prey₁ alone.

Mathematically, this leads to:

                                                                   $$S_1 > \frac{E_1 h_2}{E_2} - h_1$$

If (search time for Prey₁) is greater than the right side expression, it means that Prey₁ is hard to find or takes long to find.

Therefore, including Prey₂ (less profitable but more available or quicker to handle) is beneficial.

The correct statement is option (b)