Sustained dynamic transience in a Lotka–Volterra competition model system for grassland species

I.R. Geijzendorffer, W. van der Werf, F.J.J.A. Bianchi and R.P.O. Schulte

Ecological Modelling, 2011, vol. 222, issue 15, 2817-2824

Abstract: Theoretical approaches, such as the Lotka–Volterra framework, enable predictions about long term species coexistence based on stability criteria, but generally assume temporal constancy of system equations and parameters. In real world systems, temporal variability may interfere with the attainment of stable states. Managed grassland ecosystems in Northwestern Europe experience structural periodic fluctuations in environmental conditions: the seasons. In addition, periodic disturbances such as cutting are very common. Here we show, using a Lotka–Volterra system applied to grassland species with empirically derived parameters, that seasonal variability can result in a time dependent equilibrium and redirection of displacement processes.

Keywords: Plant interaction; Temporal dynamics; Lotka–Volterra; Seasonality; Competitive exclusion; Community ecology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:222:y:2011:i:15:p:2817-2824

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2011.05.029

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