where K scales the increase, determining how effective skill copying is, and o ik is the effective time forager i observes neighbor k: o ik=m i n[τ i,p k], where τ i is the maximum time forager i decides to spend observing its neighbor, and p k is the time left for neighbor k to complete its present action. Greater observation time leads to greater skill acquisition, where maximal observation time is the maximal time it takes to process and consume a resource (M). The increase in the skill level is bound to the skill level of the observed individual, and there is no skill gain if the skill level of the observed individual is lower than, or equal to, the forager’s own skill level. A forager does not know in advance whether a ‘demonstrator’ is highly skilled or not. Observation does not provide information about rewards.