Adaptive herbivore ecology : from resources to populations in variable environments / R. Norman Owen-Smith.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Owen-Smith, R. Norman.

Series:

Cambridge studies in ecology

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Ungulates--Ecology.

Ungulates.

Herbivores--Ecology.

Herbivores.

Ecology.

Physical Description:

xvi, 374 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2002.

Contents:

1 Conceptual origins: variability in time and space 1

Modelling philosophy 2

Herbivores and vegetation 4

Modelling technology 10

2 Consumer-resource models: theory and formulation 13

Descriptive population models 15

Demographically structured population models 20

Interactive consumer-resource models 21

Metaphysiological population models 29

3 Resource abundance: intake response and time frames 38

Within-patch feeding 42

Foraging spells 47

Daily food intake 52

Half-saturation level for intake 53

Allometry of food intake 55

Influences on the form of the intake response 56

4 Resource distribution: patch scales and depletion 61

Feeding sites 62

Patch acceptance 63

Patch departure 65

Foraging areas 75

Habitat types 77

Waterpoint restrictions 79

Selectivity in foraging 80

5 Resource quality: nutritional gain and diet choice 85

Diet breadth model 86

Palatability classes 92

Evaluating the diet breadth model 97

Form of the nutritional gain response 105

6 Resource constraints: physiological capacities and costs 110

Linear programming models 111

Digestive capacity 116

Metabolic satiation 125

Thermal tolerance 127

Constraints versus cost-benefit isoclines 131

Truncation of the intake response 133

7 Resource allocation: growth, storage and reproduction 136

Relative growth potential 137

Storage 142

Growth versus storage 151

Reproduction 153

Senescence 158

Flux- versus state-dependent mortality 159

8 Resource production: regeneration and attrition 162

General production function 163

Grass production model 165

Browse production model 177

Resource-related dynamics for plants 180

9 Resource competition: exploitation and density dependence 184

Stocking density models 185

Growth potential 188

Alternative models of resource production 191

Competitive distributions 202

Resource versus density dependence 203

10 Resource-dependent mortality: nutrition, predation and demography 205

Mortality function 206

Observed mortality patterns 209

Predation 224

State-dependent mortality 227

Demographic structure 228

11 Habitat suitability: resource components and stocking densities 232

Determinants of browser abundance 233

Range condition and grazer stocking densities 244

Generic resource types 253

12 Resource partitioning: competition and coexistence 264

Lotka-Volterra model 265

Competitive habitat partitioning 266

Exploitation competition model 269

Size difference for coexistence 279

Ecomorphological distinctions 281

Tradeoffs between facilitation and competition 288

13 Population dynamics: resource basis for instability 301

Interactive herbivore-vegetation dynamics 302

Soay sheep example 317

Other ungulate populations 329

Alternative modelling approaches 330

14 An adaptive resource ecology: foundation and prospects 335

Retrospective review 335.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [346]-369) and index.

ISBN:

0521810612

OCLC:

47849462