The components of predation as revealed by a study of small-mammal predation

Holling's classic paper dissected predation into its component processes and introduced the functional response, the relationship between prey density and the number of prey killed per predator. He defined the now-canonical Type I, II and III response curves, with the saturating Type II (governed by handling time and attack rate) and the sigmoid Type III (incorporating prey switching and learning) becoming central to all predator-prey theory. Although based on small-mammal predation, the framework underlies every quantitative model of felid kill rates, prey switching and the stability of cat-prey systems. The functional-response concept is indispensable for interpreting lynx-hare dynamics, big-cat kill rates and the regulation versus limitation of prey.