Herbivores and plant diversity
Article Abstract:
Spatial lottery models of competition between two plant species in which competitive ability is affected by herbivory levels were studied. It was observed that herbivory can enhance plant diversity in two ways. The first is when a specialist herbivore decreases as its host becomes rare, resulting in rare species advantage. The second is when herbivore abundance exhibits spatial variance, which enhances plant diversity by allowing the existence of ephemeral, local refuges for competitively inferior plants.
Publication Name: The American Naturalist
Subject: Earth sciences
ISSN: 0003-0147
Year: 1992
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Neighborhood models of clonal growth in the white clover Trifolium repens
Article Abstract:
The spatial pattern of growth of Trifolium repens clones was closely examined with models of clonal plant population dynamics. The clonal simulator model revealed the presence of positive density-dependent growth in white clover. The simulation model was also used to examine the relationship of individual movement and population growth in white clover. The study revealed that local aggregations of clover can exist in a specific period of time despite high dispersal from areas of high population growth.
Publication Name: The American Naturalist
Subject: Earth sciences
ISSN: 0003-0147
Year: 1995
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An analytical treatment of root-to-shoot ratio and plant competition for soil nutrient and light
Article Abstract:
Plant resource competition for soil nutrient and light was investigated. The study protocol involved restricting biomass allocation to twocompartments, the leaves and the roots. Conditions for succession from nutrientspecialists to light specialists and from light to nutrient specialists were derived. Three possible equilibrium outcomes of the two-species competition model and the role of founder control in community diversity and successional dynamics were discussed.
Publication Name: The American Naturalist
Subject: Earth sciences
ISSN: 0003-0147
Year: 1993
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