Abstract
Viability of plants, especially endangered species, are usually affected by multiple stressors, including insects, herbivores, environmental factors and other plant species. We present new mathematical models, based on systems of ordinary differential equations, of two distinct herbivore species feeding (two stressors) on the same plant species. The new feature is the explicit functional form modeling the simultaneous feedback interactions (synergistic or additive or antagonistic) between the three species in the ecosystem. The goal is to investigate whether the coexistence of the plant and both herbivore species is possible (a sustainable system) and under which conditions sustainability is feasible. Our theoretical analysis of the novel model without including competitions among the two herbivores reveals that the number of equilibrium states and their local stability depends on the type of interaction between the stressors: synergistic or additive or antagonistic. Our numerical results, based on value of parameters available, suggest that a sustainable system requires significant herbivore inter- or intra-species competition or both types. Additionally, our numerical findings indicate that competition and interaction of additive type promotes coexistence equilibrium states with the highest plant biomass. Furthermore, the system can exhibit periodic behavior and show the potential for multi-stability.
Recommended Citation
Chen-Charpentier, B.; Leite, M. C.A.; Gaoue, O.; and Agusto, F. B.
(2020).
Mathematical Modeling for Studying the Sustainability of Plants Subject to the Stress of Two Distinct Herbivores,
Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM), Vol. 15,
Iss.
1, Article 35.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.pvamu.edu/aam/vol15/iss1/35
Included in
Biology Commons, Numerical Analysis and Computation Commons, Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons