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Food abundance, prey morphology, and diet specialization influence individual sea otter tool use

Author

Listed:
  • Jessica A Fujii
  • Katherine Ralls
  • M Tim Tinker

Abstract

Lay SummaryWhether sea otters use tools to dine depends on what’s for dinner. When calorie-rich food is plentiful, all otters eat the best foods and use tools only if hard-shelled prey like large clams are present. But when the menu includes less-desirable options including small, hard-shelled snails, only some otters eat snails and use tools to crack them. Similar factors may also drive tool use in other animals like crows or dolphins.

Suggested Citation

  • Jessica A Fujii & Katherine Ralls & M Tim Tinker, 2017. "Food abundance, prey morphology, and diet specialization influence individual sea otter tool use," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 28(5), pages 1206-1216.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:beheco:v:28:y:2017:i:5:p:1206-1216.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/beheco/arx011
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