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Acknowledgements 169<br />
Therefore:<br />
• If x = ∆x 1 − ∆x 0 , then d # (θ, x, T − 2) = 0 , the larva chooses to<br />
forage. When the larva chooses to eat at time T − 2, it optimises<br />
its energy resources value and is taken away from the reef by<br />
∆x 0 . So, at time T − 1, it will be at the correct distance to come<br />
back to the reef (i.e. ∆x 1 ).<br />
• If x = 2∆x 1 , then d # (θ, x, T − 2) = 1, the larva decides to swim.<br />
Here again, this choice is natural as swimming brings the larva<br />
to a distance ∆x 1 from the reef. It will only have to swim once<br />
more at last time step to reach it.<br />
The explicit calculation of V (θ, x, t) becomes more and more complex<br />
as one goes backward in time. A computer code is developed in Scilab to<br />
find numerically all optimal decisions. Still, we have noted that solving<br />
Bellman’s equation gives very intuitive results at time T − 1 and T − 2.<br />
6.B Acknowledgements<br />
The authors are thankful to J-P. Chancelier, from the CERMICS, for<br />
his help in coding the model in Scilab and to A. Lo-Yat, M. S. Pratchett,<br />
D. J. Gibson and two anonymous referees for their comments on<br />
the manuscript submitted to the Journal of Theoretical Biology. Regarding<br />
further development of the model, the authors are grateful to<br />
P. Marsaleix for its help in adapting Symphonie to the configuration used<br />
here, and most indebted to C. Dong for sharing his ROMS configuration.<br />
This work was accomplished with financial support from the French<br />
ministry of research (ACI MOOREA, quantitative ecology).