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A deterministic model to study the importance of density‐dependence for regulation and the outcome of intra‐specific competition in populations of sparse plants
Author(s) -
Klinkhamer P.G.L.,
De Jong T.J.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
acta botanica neerlandica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.871
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1438-8677
pISSN - 0044-5983
DOI - 10.1111/j.1438-8677.1989.tb01912.x
Subject(s) - outcome (game theory) , density dependence , competition (biology) , selection (genetic algorithm) , simple (philosophy) , statistical physics , econometrics , statistics , mathematics , biology , computer science , physics , ecology , mathematical economics , demography , artificial intelligence , population , sociology , philosophy , epistemology
SUMMARY The importance of density‐dependence is addressed by discussing the results of a simple deterministic model for plant populations. The model takes into account that plants, once germinated, do not move. It is shown that density‐dependence can keep sparse populations sparse. Also, it is shown that density‐dependence, even if it affects only a minority of the individuals, can determine the outcome of competition. The effect of density‐dependence on selection for a specific seed size and generation time are discussed.