A PHYSIOLOGICALLY-BASED MODEL OF A SELF-MOTIVATED HARE IN RELATION TOITS ECOLOGY

The use of individually-based, detail-rich, simulation models for the study of the behavioral ecology of wildlife is expanding for their abi lity to link evolutionary processes operating at the individual level (e.g. optimal foraging) to ecological and demographic processes usuall y described at the population level, Within this modelling framework, we tested the possibility of using artificial intelligence (AI) method s and object-oriented programming (OOP) to implement behavioral proces ses in a physiologically-based model of the hare (Lepus spp.). This ap proach is interesting and partly innovative because the behavioral rul es which 'move' the animals are based on the simulation of the decisio n-making system itself. Moreover in this model both the landscape and the behavior of a predator species (the fox) are taken into account. T he model is quite complex and its dynamics exhibits interesting emerge nt proprieties which have not been specifically wired in. It has been internally validated and a careful calibration of the different subsys tems has been attempted with respect to the actual behavior of hares, The simulated hare exhibits a quite stable ethogram under variable env ironmental conditions and performs both state-conditioned activities a nd an adaptive behavioral strategy, where the animal's behavior is mod ified as a function of the environmental conditions in order to mainta in a constant (and positive) fitness level. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.