Skip to main content
Log in

Vegetation complexity and the dynamics of modelled grazing systems

  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The dynamics of a one-herbivore-many-plants system can often be summarised by a one-herbivore-one-plant model. The many plants are modelled as if they were a single plant species whose intrinsic rate of increase equals the harmonic mean of the specific intrinsic rates. The relationship between the parameters of the simple and complex system is given, and exceptions, nuances and stability properties are explored.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Cale WG, Odell PL (1979) Concerning aggregation in ecosystem modeling. In: E Halfon (ed) Theoretical Systems Ecology. Academic Press New York p 55–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Cale WG, Odell PL (1980) Behavior of aggregate state variables in ecosystem models. Mathematical Biosciences 49:121–137

    Google Scholar 

  • Caughley G (1967a) Plant-herbivore systems. In: RM May, (ed) Theoretical ecology. Principles and applications. WB Saunders Company, Philadelphia p 94–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Caughley G (1976b) Wildlife management and the dynamics of ungulate populations. In: TH Coaker (ed) Applied Biology Vol 1, Academic Press London England p 183–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Crête M, Taylor RJ, Jordon PA (1981) Optimization of moose harvest in southwestern Quebec. J Wildlife Manage 45:598–611

    Google Scholar 

  • Ivlev VS (1961) Experimental ecology of the feeding of fishes. Yale University Press New Haven

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones RK, Sandland RL (1974) The relationship between animal gain and stocking rate. J Agric Sci, Camb 83:335–342

    Google Scholar 

  • May RM (1973) Stability and complexity in model ecosystems. Princeton University Press, Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • May RM (1976) Models for two interacting populations. In: RM May (ed) Theoretical Ecology. Principles and applications. WB Saunders Company Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  • May RM, Beddington JR, Clark CW, Holt SJ, Laws RM (1979) Management of multispecies fisheries. Science 205:267–277

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Neill RV, Rust B (1979) Aggregation error in ecological models. Ecological Modelling 7:91–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandland RL, Jones RJ (1975) The relation between animal gain and stocking rate in grazing trials: an examination of published theoretical models. J Agric Sci, Camb 85:123–128

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Caughley, G. Vegetation complexity and the dynamics of modelled grazing systems. Oecologia 54, 309–312 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379998

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379998

Keywords

Navigation