Optimal Intermittent Search Strategies, Smelling the Prey.

J. A REVELLI, H. S. WIO; F. ROJO, C. E. BUDDE

JOURNAL OF PHYSICS A-MATHEMATICAL AND THEORETICAL

IOP PUBLISHING LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2010 vol. 43 p. 195001 - 195012

1751-8113

We study the kinetics of the search of a single fixed target by a searcher/walkerthat performs an intermittent random walk, characterized by different statesof motion. In addition, we assume that the walker has the ability to detectthe scent left by the prey/target in its surroundings. Our results, in agreementwith intuition, indicate that the prey’s survival probability could be stronglyreduced (increased) if the predator is attracted (or repelled) by the trace leftby the prey. We have also found that, for a positive trace (the predator isguided towards the prey), increasing the inhomogeneity’s size reduces theprey’s survival probability, while the optimal value of α (the parameter thatregulates intermittency) ceases to exist. The agreement between theory andnumerical simulations is excellent.