Parasitoids may determine plant fitness - A mathematical model based on experimental data

The present paper deals with the problem of enhancement of plant fitness du e to parasitization of herbivores. The experimental evidence for such situa tions is reviewed. Two mathematical models, plant-herbivore (two trophic) a nd plant-herbivore-parasitoid (three trophic) are considered to analyse the experimental observations. The effect of environmental fluctuation in the tritrophic system is also observed and optimum values of the inaccessible p arameters involved in the system are estimated for purposes of biological c ontrol. (C) 2001 Academic Press.