Publication at Faculty of Science |
2012
Abstract
Although a high rate of herbivory was detected in most populations of S. hispanica, current landscape-level dynamics of S. hispanica were approximately in equilibrium. A decline or increase of over 20% in the herbivory rate promoted rapid expansion or decline of S. hispanica, respectively.
This effect was much stronger in the presence of population destruction. Browsing by large herbivores can thus have a dramatic effect on the landscape dynamics of plant species.
Changes in the density of large herbivores and the probability of population destruction should be incorporated into models predicting species abundance and distribution.