University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Biological Sciences, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
Ecol Lett. 2013 Apr;16(4):545-55. doi: 10.1111/ele.12071. Epub 2013 Jan 15.
The fixed and plastic traits possessed by a plant, which may be collectively thought of as its strategy, are commonly modelled as density-independent adaptations to its environment. However, plant strategies may also represent density- or frequency-dependent adaptations to the strategies used by neighbours. Game theory provides the tools to characterise such density- and frequency-dependent interactions. Here, we review the contributions of game theory to plant ecology. After briefly reviewing game theory from the perspective of plant ecology, we divide our review into three sections. First, game theoretical models of allocation to shoots and roots often predict investment in those organs beyond what would be optimal in the absence of competition. Second, game theoretical models of enemy defence suggest that an individual's investment in defence is not only a means of reducing its own tissue damage but also a means of deflecting enemies onto competitors. Finally, game theoretical models of trade with mutualistic partners suggest that the optimal trade may reflect competition for access to mutualistic partners among plants. In short, our review provides an accessible entrance to game theory that will help plant ecologists enrich their research with its worldview and existing predictions.
植物所具有的固定和可塑性特征，通常被认为是其策略，可以被集体视为对环境的密度无关适应。然而，植物的策略也可能代表对邻居所使用策略的密度或频率的适应。博弈论为描述这种密度和频率依赖的相互作用提供了工具。在这里，我们回顾了博弈论在植物生态学中的贡献。在简要回顾了从植物生态学角度看的博弈论之后，我们将综述分为三个部分。首先，分配给茎和根的博弈理论模型通常预测在没有竞争的情况下，对这些器官的投资超过最佳投资。其次，防御敌人的博弈理论模型表明，个体在防御上的投资不仅是减少自身组织损伤的一种手段，也是将敌人转移到竞争对手身上的一种手段。最后，与互利伙伴进行贸易的博弈理论模型表明，最佳贸易可能反映了植物之间对互利伙伴的竞争。总之，我们的综述提供了一个易于理解的博弈论入口，将帮助植物生态学家用其世界观和现有的预测丰富他们的研究。
