C.L. Alados J.M. Emlen J. Escos 1997 <p><strong>1.</strong> We examined natural grazing by livestock (sheep and goats) on Albaida <i>Anthyllis cytisoides</i> L. with the aim of determining whether variation in the allometric relationships between plant parts provides a sensitive indicator of the impact of grazing.</p><p><strong>2.</strong> The intra-individual variation in translatory symmetry with scale and increased complexity of fractal structures reflect environmental disturbance under heavy grazing pressure and lack of grazing.</p><p><strong>3.</strong> Fitness consequences of grazing were also investigated. Grazing promotes growth and adult survival, and a drop in seed production as a consequence of consumption. In spite of that, total inclusive fitness (population rate of change) tends to increase with grazing.</p><p><strong>4.</strong> Moderate grazing, while promoting growth, also enhances stability of vegetative structures. The favourable effect of moderate levels of herbivory on <i>A. cytisoides</i> is reflected in the homeostatic maintenance of its translatory symmetry and in the increased complexity of its fractal structures.</p> application/pdf 10.1046/j.1365-2435.1997.00068.x en Blackwell Scientific Publications The impact of grazing on plant fractal architecture and fitness of a mediterranean shrub (Anthyllis cytisoides L.) article