holling

Holling is a surname of English origin and is found in many English-speaking countries. The name may derive from a place name or from a descriptive term connected with landscape features, and it has appeared in genealogical and historical records dating back several centuries.

In science, Holling is best known for the ecologist C. S. Holling and for Holling’s functional responses in predator–prey theory. Holling’s functional response describes how a predator’s rate of prey consumption varies with prey density, leading to three classic forms: Type I, a linear increase at low densities; Type II, a decelerating rise due to handling time that limits consumption; and Type III, a sigmoidal curve reflecting learning or prey switching at intermediate densities. The concept has influenced ecological modeling, wildlife management, and studies of foraging behavior. Holling’s disk experiment is a related methodological contribution that demonstrated predator–prey dynamics under controlled conditions.

Geographically, Holling is the name of several small places in England, and it appears in the toponymy and local histories of that country. The surname and its derivatives appear in historical records across Europe and the Americas, reflecting migration and changing spellings.