An experimental analysis of density dependence in meadow voles: Within-season and delayed effects.
Ecology
; 104(4): e4008, 2023 04.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36807294
ABSTRACT
Wild mammal populations exhibit a variety of dynamics, ranging from fairly stable with little change in population size over time to high-amplitude cyclic or erratic fluctuations. A persistent question in population ecology is why populations fluctuate as they do. Answering this seemingly simple question has proven to be challenging. Broadly, density-dependent feedback mechanisms should allow populations to grow at low density and slow or halt growth at high density. However, experimental tests of what demographic processes result in density-dependent feedback and on what timescale have proven elusive. Here, we used replicated density perturbation experiments and capture-mark-recapture analyses to test density-dependent population growth in populations of meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) during the summer breeding season by manipulating founding population density and observing the pattern of survival, reproduction, and population growth. High population density had no consistent effect on survival rates but generally negatively influenced recruitment and population growth rates. However, these density-dependent effects varied within the breeding season and across years. Our study provides evidence that density-dependent feedback mechanisms operate at finer time scales than previously believed and that process, additively with delayed year effects, is key to understanding multiyear population demography.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Reprodução
/
Crescimento Demográfico
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Ecology
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Canadá