Patch residence time is maximized when:
When travel between patches takes a long time, leaving the current patch imposes a large period with no resource intake. The marginal value theorem therefore predicts that a forager should exploit each reached patch more thoroughly and remain there longer before departing. With short travel, frequent movement is less costly and earlier departure can be optimal. Resource-poor patches generally support shorter visits unless travel costs are extreme, and low energetic rewards do not by themselves maximize residence. The relationship arises because the optimal departure tangent is calculated over
Ref: Ecology: From Individuals to Ecosystems, Begon et al., 5th Ed., Ch. 10