1. Global environmental controls of diversity in large herbivores
Han Olff, Mark E. Ritchie & Herbert H.T. Prins

2. Where a herbivore can survive is controlled by available resources: particularly plant abundance and quality.
2) Plant abundance and quality is controlled by available water and soil nutrients.
So, is it possible to predict where a herbivore can survive based only on available water and nutrients?

3. Assumption 1
Plant abundance increases with increased moisture and nutrients.

4. Assumption 2
2) Plant quality decreases with increased moisture but increases with increased nutrients.

5. Assumption 3
3) Large herbivores can persist in areas where plant quality is low if plant abundance is high.

6. Assumption 4
4) Small herbivores can survive in areas where plant abundance is low if plant quality is high.

7. Plant abundance
(high)
herbivore persists
Abundance threshold
(low)

8. Plant quality
quality threshold
(low)
(high)
herbivore persists

9. Together…
Herbivore persists

11. Intermediate
moisture
High nutrients

12. Is diversity highest at intermediate plant available moisture?

13. Is herbivore diversity highest at high nutrients?

16. Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities…
(Myers et al (Nature))