DIPODOMYS POPULATIONS AS ENERGY-PROCESSING SYSTEMS - REGULATION, COMPETITION, AND HIERARCHICAL ORGANIZATION

The role of extrinsic and intrinsic factors in the regulation of population dynamics and community structure has been poorly understood. To address this question, an energetic model of population dynamics is developed for a system of two species of heteromyid rodents (Dipodomys spp.) using a single homogeneous seed resource. The model suggests that large-scale, extrinsic factors, such as climate, and intrinsic properties of individual organisms and populations interact to determine the observed community dynamics. Previous modelling approaches have confused organismic level processes, such as foraging, with population and community level processes, such as reproduction and competition. Systems approaches incorporating energetics and hierarchy theory should provide a more realistic basis for dealing with complex ecological systems such as populations and communities. © 1990.