Grassland Models

Abstract

An overview of ecological models of grasslands and their research questions is presented. For the purpose of this article, models are regarded as a simplified and formalized representation of ecological processes, either using mathematical or computer simulation techniques, which produce, based on a set of assumptions, a quantitative output. The focus lies on models which are concerned with grassland population and community dynamics, with less attention to grassland models of matter and energy flows or biophysical processes. The introduction briefly defines grasslands and outlines their importance for ecological research and why models are important tools in grassland research. A large class of models is concerned with grassland dynamics and processes. An important part of these models deals with succession either from the applied viewpoint of rangeland science or from a spatially explicit perspective in the context of disturbance. The questions of optimal life-history strategies under disturbance, and the role of competition and spatial structures on coexistence in grasslands were also frequently analyzed with modeling techniques. Further applications of models in grasslands are concerned with the impact of grazing, and modeling primary production. Finally, ecosystem modeling is concerned with flows of energy and matter in grasslands.