EEB 3408W Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Functional Response, Isocline, Stochastic Process
14 Mar 2017
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Document Summary
+/- interactions- play a huge role in the distribution and abundance of organisms. Simple system without complex interactions of multiple prey and predators. Moose feed on balsam fir - if over foraged or unable to be found, the moose suffer. 80/90% moose death is because of wolves. Moose are attacked by disease as well. Climate change impacts the system with earlier springs. Clear oscillations show that wolves impact densities of moose and moose impacts densities of wolves. Lynx buildup follows and lags the hare buildup producing sequential crashes. Peaks of predator and prey sometimes coincide. Aggressive perennial that displaces desirable grasses and herbs. Leaf eating beetles can be used to help. Predation can be transient and difficult to identify. Humans perturbate natural systems which become less stable. Present patterns of distribution and abundance can be misleading. Predator imposes large negative effect on prey population dynamics with a lag.
