Mathematical Ecology of Plant Species Competition

Presented in this volume is a class of deterministic models describing the dynamics of two plant species whose characteristics are common to the majority of annual plants. These models were developed in response to four major questions on the long-term outcomes of binary mixtures of plant species--is ultimate coexistence possible? If not, which strain will win? Does the mixture approach an equilibrium? If so, how long does the mixture take to attain it? In the particular case study modeled, the species involved are two pastural strains whose dynamics have critical agricultural and economic implications for the areas in which they are found, including North America, the Mediterranean region and Australia. These mathematical studies will be valuable to mathematical biologists, botanists, botanists interested in population dynamics, and graduate students in these areas.