Explaining variation in hunter-gatherer livelihoods hinges on our ability to predict the tradeoffs and opportunities of pursuing different kinds of prey. Central to this problem is the commonly held assumption that larger animals provide higher returns upon encounter than smaller ones. However, to test this assumption, actualistic observations of hunting payoffs must be comparable across different social, technological, and ecological contexts. In this meta-analysis, we revisit published and unpublished estimates of prey return rates (n = 217 from 181 prey types) to assess, first, whether they are methodologically comparable, and second, whether they correlate with body size. We find systematic inter-study differences in how carcass yield, energetic content, and foraging returns are calculated. We correct for these inconsistencies first by calculating new estimates of energetic yield (kcals per kg live weight) and processing costs for over 300 species of terrestrial and avian game. We then recalculate on-encounter returns using a standardized formula. We find that body size is a poor predictor of on-encounter return rate, while prey characteristics and behavior, mode of procurement, and hunting technology are better predictors. Although prey body size correlates well with processing costs and edibility, relationships with pursuit time and energetic value per kilogram are relatively weak.

解释狩猎采集者生计的变化取决于我们预测追求不同种类猎物的权衡和机会的能力。这个问题的核心是普遍持有的假设，即较大的动物在遭遇时比较小的动物提供更高的回报。然而，为了检验这一假设，对狩猎收益的实际观察必须在不同的社会、技术和生态环境中具有可比性。在这项荟萃分析中，我们重新审视了已发表和未发表的对猎物返回率 ( n = 181 种猎物类型中的 217 个）来评估，首先，它们在方法上是否具有可比性，其次，它们是否与体型相关。我们发现在如何计算胴体产量、能量含量和觅食回报方面的系统性研究间差异。我们首先通过计算 300 多种陆生和鸟类游戏的能量产量（每公斤活重千卡）和加工成本的新估计值来纠正这些不一致。然后，我们使用标准化公式重新计算遇到回报。我们发现体型大小是捕食回报率的较差预测指标，而猎物特征和行为、采购方式和狩猎技术是更好的预测指标。尽管猎物的体型与加工成本和可食性密切相关，