Spatial ecology of large herbivore populations

摘要: Models of the dynamics large herbivore populations represent density feedbacks on population growth rate either directly or indirectly through interactions with vegetation resources. Neither approach incorporates spatial heterogeneity that is an essential feature most natural environments, and modifies generated. This especially true for herbivores exploiting food resources are rooted in space but temporally variable quantity quality both seasonally annually. In this review I explore how environmental variation at different spatiotemporal scales influences abundance controlled via resources, predators social mechanisms. Changes can be spatially disparate dependent resource components stages seasonal cycle, including buffer restricting crashes extremely adverse years. GPS telemetry enables movement responses generating patterns to documented fine detail, migration dispersal. incorporating implicitly explicitly outlined, exemplifying cope temporal variability by conditions. Global human dominance widened climatic while opportunities movements becoming constricted. Theoretical ecologists need shift their focus from workings demographic structure towards effects changing contexts, order project likely trajectories Anthropocene.