Modelling the population dynamics of root hemiparasitic plants along a productivity gradient

0355615 - BC 2011 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Fibich, P. - Lepš, J. - Berec, Luděk
Modelling the population dynamics of root hemiparasitic plants along a productivity gradient.
Folia Geobotanica. Roč. 45, č. 4 (2010), s. 425-442. ISSN 1211-9520. E-ISSN 1874-9348
R&D Projects: GA ČR GD206/08/H044
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z50070508
Keywords : hemiparasites * light competition * productivity gradient
Subject RIV: EH - Ecology, Behaviour
Impact factor: 1.229, year: 2010

Root hemiparasitic plants interact with their host plants through parasitism and competition. Here we modeled this interaction via extending the well-known Rosenzweig-MacArthur predator-prey model to cover both competition for light and intra-specific parasitism among hemiparasites. We showed that at very low productivities, there are only a few poor hosts and hemiparasites have no chance to persist. As productivity increases, there is a range of productivity where both plant types coexist. Finally, a further increase in productivity gets the system out of the coexistence range, and only host plants survive. This final prediction successfully explains patterns observed in empirical data.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0006303