One predator - two prey systems: Individual behaviour and population dynamics

In this thesis, I study relatively simple food webs consisting of only two or three herbivores, a plant and a predator. Such systems are characterized by complex interactions, on the one hand, through the occurrence of apparent competition, apparent mutualism and intraguild predation, and on the other hand through the behaviour of predators and prey. Additionally, the temporal and spatial scales on which these interactions occur will intensify or weaken the effect of these interactions on population densities. The aim of this thesis is to study interactions determining prey densities in a simple food web and how prey and predator behaviour influence the strength of these interactions.