Abstract
Phytophagous animals consume only a part of the vegetation forage supply, and maximum utilization does not exceed 60% of the above-ground phytomass. Different phytocoenoses vary in their resistance to phytomass removal. Phytocoenoses formed under permanent exposure to animals are able to tolerate considerable defoliation, while in its absence (for instance, in reserves) phytocoenoses develop which cannot tolerate even slight defoliation. The maximum defoliation of vegetation with no detriment to its productivity can represent up to 70–75% of the above-ground phytomass, which is more than phytophagous animals can remove. For this reason, in pasture ecosystems, animals cannot usually reduce the productivity of the phytocoenoses, which is entirely determined by environmental factors. This pattern of interrelations is typical of the “predator-prey” system.
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