Refuge (ecology)

Biodiverse coral reef community

A refuge is a concept in ecology, in which an organism obtains protection from predation by hiding in an area where it is inaccessible or cannot easily be found. Due to population dynamics, when refuges are available, populations of both predators and prey are significantly higher,[1][2] and significantly more species can be supported in an area.[3][4]

  1. ^ Sih, Andrew (1987). "Prey refuges and predator-prey stability". Theoretical Population Biology. 31: 1–12. doi:10.1016/0040-5809(87)90019-0.
  2. ^ McNair, James N. (1986). "The effects of refuges on predator-prey interactions: A reconsideration". Theoretical Population Biology. 29 (1): 38–63. doi:10.1016/0040-5809(86)90004-3. PMID 3961711.
  3. ^ Berryman, Alan A.; Hawkins, Bradford A.; Hawkins, Bradford A. (2006). "The refuge as an integrating concept in ecology and evolution". Oikos. 115 (1): 192–196. Bibcode:2006Oikos.115..192B. doi:10.1111/j.0030-1299.2006.15188.x.
  4. ^ Cressman, Ross; Garay, József (2009). "A predator–prey refuge system: Evolutionary stability in ecological systems". Theoretical Population Biology. 76 (4): 248–57. doi:10.1016/j.tpb.2009.08.005. PMID 19751753.