Derivation of the functional response of a foraging herbivore

The actual rate of food intake of a consumer depends on the way this animal shares its time between its different activities. Using a mathematical approach, we show how the proportions of time an herbivore spends searching for food, cropping food, and handling food, determine its feeding rate. We also show how this feeding rate is affected by the animal's ability to detect food and to handle it. The equation we finally get corresponds to the herbivore's functional response.