Herbivore-Algae Predator–Prey Dynamics

A predator (herbivore) preys upon another species (algae). Can we express the dynamics of such an interaction? Can we find the period of the cycle of interaction? Upon what does this period most sensitively depend? This model has many analogies: the fox and hare, the lynx and rabbit, and even Garret Hardin’s classical Tragedy of the Commons. Are there others? Many models develop through analogous models. The keys to successful modeling are to recognize the analogy and to know when in the modeling process to abandon it.