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- Title
Spatial interaction models: from human geography to plant-herhivore interactions.
- Authors
Oom, S.P.; Hester, A.J.; Elston, D.A.; Legg, C.J.
- Abstract
The spatial pattern of defoliation by mammalian herbivores across vegetation mosaics has been frequently discussed, but rarely spatially quantified. Here we considered the role of plant-herbivore interactions in determining the spatial distribution of shrub defoliation by a large mammalian herbivore across a grass-shrub mosaic. We investigated the spatial pattern of heather defoliation by sheep in heather-grass mosaics. Heather-grass mosaics are two-phased vegetation mosaics, in which a spatially localized plant community (grass) fulfils nutritional needs, whilst a spatially extensive plant community (heather) meets energy requirements but is nutritionally marginal. We used a spatial analysis method, originating from human geography, to show that heather defoliation was not spread across the mosaic homogeneously, but that the spatial pattern was determined by geometric characteristics of the mosaic, grazing intensity, and the contrast between preferred and less preferred communities. The spatial analysis method proved to be a powerful tool to describe the spatial pattern of shrub defoliation. Applications of the method are explored and the implications of the spatial distribution of shrub defoliation are discussed.
- Subjects
DEFOLIATION; HERBIVORES; SHEEP; VEGETATION &; climate
- Publication
Oikos, 2002, Vol 98, Issue 1, p65
- ISSN
0030-1299
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1034/j.1600-0706.2002.980107.x