The bigger the better? Predation and prey size choice in a patchy environment

Prey individuals vary in their body size even within groups and are often scattered heterogeneously patchy environments. A foraging predator has to evaluate select the patches where it can maximize its energetic gains. We studied behavior of a (little egret, Egretta garzetta) hunting prey (goldfish, Carassius auratus) that differed composition across three different (one large, one mixed, small). quantified predator’s stay time, return time size-specific kills prey. The egret spent similar amount total patches; however, more per-visit pools containing large-bodied fish also returned those soonest after leaving forage elsewhere, suggesting predators employ management strategy returns. Furthermore, preferentially killed larger individuals. Such size-selective predation shift structure landscape influence dynamics species interactions eventually communities.