A general analysis of resource allocation by competing individuals.

The analysis presented in this paper is constructed to determine the pattern of resource allocations among competing individuals of the same and/or different species in some defined habitat. Competing individuals have at their disposal various activities which can be run at different intensities and consume or produce resources in the habitat linearly. The linearity of resource utilization restricts the analysis to exploitative competition. Each resource is assigned values representing the reproductive gain and reproductive cost to the organism incurred while utilizing the resource. The organisms attempt to choose the amounts and kinds of resources which maximize the total reproductive gain. Resource utilization is restricted by the availability of resources in the habitat, the patterns of consumption associated with the activities of the individuals, and the demand for the individual resources (fixed through competition pressure) of the habitat. It is proved that under these restrictions a competitive equilibrium exists where resources are utilized so as to maximize individual reproductive gain and that this equilibrium generates the most efficient utilization of the resources in that habitat. The selection of a diet subject to nutritional requirements is given as an example of possible applications of this approach. The assumptions and restrictions associated with this technique of analysis are discussed.