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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
10:20
Linking Predation Risk, Herbivore Physiological Stress and Microbial Decomposition of Plant Litter
Published on: March 12, 2013
How predation can slow, stop or reverse a prey invasion
1Department of Mathematical Sciences, Loughborough University, UK. M.R.Owen@lboro.ac.uk
Bulletin of Mathematical Biology
|August 11, 2001
Summary
Insect herbivores can significantly slow or even reverse the spread of plant populations, such as lupins at Mount St. Helens. This study explores how predator-prey dynamics and spatial spread influence plant recolonization.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Mathematical Biology
- Population Dynamics
Background:
- Plant recolonization after disturbances, like at Mount St. Helens, is crucial for ecosystem recovery.
- Previous observations suggest insect herbivores can impede plant spread, potentially reversing invasion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ecological mechanisms by which herbivory can limit the spatial expansion of recolonizing plant species.
- To derive conditions under which predation pressure can control plant invasions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of predator-prey reaction-diffusion models.
- Examination of spatially coupled ordinary differential equation models.
- Focus on models with slower prey (plant) dispersal than predator (herbivore) dispersal.
Main Results:
- Identified conditions where predation pressure can slow, stall, or reverse spatial plant invasions.
- Demonstrated the influence of functional responses and dispersal rates on invasion dynamics.
- Highlighted the importance of predator-prey interactions in primary succession.
Conclusions:
- Herbivory can be a significant factor in regulating the spatial spread of plant populations.
- Mathematical modeling provides insights into the ecological conditions favoring herbivore control of plant invasions.
- Understanding these dynamics is vital for predicting and managing ecosystem recovery.
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