“An ecological perspective”: The value of species comparisons

George Collier is known for promoting the incorporation of an ecological framework into the study of feeding behavior. He has tirelessly reminded psychologists and physiologists that the animals they study are members of species designed by evolution to solve problems of acquiring, handling and storing energy in particular ways. A less-appreciated contribution is the comparative approach within his laboratory. George and his students used laboratory simulations of foraging, but ranged far beyond the laboratory rat to examine the responses of a variety of species representing different dietary needs and foraging strategies. Species comparisons enhance our ability to test the generality of responses to challenges, apply ecological theory to the explanation of behavior, and incorporate the feeding strategy of a species in the study of its ingestive behavior.