scholarly journals Trophic interactions and population growth rates: describing patterns and identifying mechanisms

2002 ◽  
Vol 357 (1425) ◽  
pp. 1259-1271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Hudson ◽  
Andy P. Dobson ◽  
Isabella M. Cattadori ◽  
David Newborn ◽  
Dan T. Haydon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Time Series ◽  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Population Growth Rate ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Model Framework ◽  
Negative Growth

While the concept of population growth rate has been of central importance in the development of the theory of population dynamics, few empirical studies consider the intrinsic growth rate in detail, let alone how it may vary within and between populations of the same species. In an attempt to link theory with data we take two approaches. First, we address the question 'what growth rate patterns does theory predict we should see in time–series?' The models make a number of predictions, which in general are supported by a comparative study between time–series of harvesting data from 352 red grouse populations. Variations in growth rate between grouse populations were associated with factors that reflected the quality and availability of the main food plant of the grouse. However, while these results support predictions from theory, they provide no clear insight into the mechanisms influencing reductions in population growth rate and regulation. In the second part of the paper, we consider the results of experiments, first at the individual level and then at the population level, to identify the important mechanisms influencing changes in individual productivity and population growth rate. The parasitic nematode Trichostrongylus tenuis is found to have an important influence on productivity, and when incorporated into models with their patterns of distribution between individuals has a destabilizing effect and generates negative growth rates. The hypothesis that negative growth rates at the population level were caused by parasites was demonstrated by a replicated population level experiment. With a sound and tested model framework we then explore the interaction with other natural enemies and show that in general they tend to stabilize variations in growth rate. Interestingly, the models show selective predators that remove heavily infected individuals can release the grouse from parasite–induced regulation and allow equilibrium populations to rise. By contrast, a tick–borne virus that killed chicks simply leads to a reduction in the equilibrium. When humans take grouse they do not appear to stabilize populations and this may be because many of the infective stages are available for infection before harvesting commences. In our opinion, an understanding of growth rates and population dynamics is best achieved through a mechanistic approach that includes a sound experimental approach with the development of models. Models can be tested further to explore how the community of predators and others interact with their prey.

scholarly journals Population growth rates: issues and an application

2002 ◽  
Vol 357 (1425) ◽  
pp. 1307-1319 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Charles J. Godfray ◽  
Mark Rees
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Population Growth Rate ◽  
Population Change ◽  
Evolutionarily Stable Strategy ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Population Growth Rates

Current issues in population dynamics are discussed in the context of The Royal Society Discussion Meeting 'Population growth rate: determining factors and role in population regulation'. In particular, different views on the centrality of population growth rates to the study of population dynamics and the role of experiments and theory are explored. Major themes emerging include the role of modern statistical techniques in bringing together experimental and theoretical studies, the importance of long-term experimentation and the need for ecology to have model systems, and the value of population growth rate as a means of understanding and predicting population change. The last point is illustrated by the application of a recently introduced technique, integral projection modelling, to study the population growth rate of a monocarpic perennial plant, its elasticities to different life-history components and the evolution of an evolutionarily stable strategy size at flowering.

An Evaluation of RNA–DNA Ratio as a Measure of Long-Term Growth in Fish Populations

1973 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry A. Haines
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Population Growth Rate ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Smallmouth Bass ◽  
Fish Populations ◽  
Population Growth Rates

The value of RNA–DNA ratio as a measure of long-term growth of fish populations under semi-natural conditions and when subjected to environmental manipulations was determined. Populations of carp and smallmouth bass of known age distribution were established in artificial ponds maintained at two fertility levels. After 15 months, population growth rates (as percent increase in weight) and RNA–DNA ratios of muscle tissue from selected fish were measured. Each species exhibited a range of population growth rates. The relation between population growth rate and individual fish RNA–DNA ratio for each species was significant. When reproduction occurred, the relation was not significant unless young-of-the-year fish were excluded from population growth rate calculations. Age of fish was also found to have an important effect on RNA–DNA ratio, with the ratio being higher in younger fish.RNA–DNA ratio can be a reliable indicator of long-term population growth in fish when population age structure is known and recruitment is controlled. The method has potential for use in detecting response to environmental changes before growth rate changes become severe.

scholarly journals Breeding transients in capture–recapture modeling and their consequences for local population dynamics

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Oro ◽  
Daniel F. Doak
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Population Growth Rate ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Environmental Stochasticity ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Local Survival ◽  
First Reproduction ◽  
Capture Recapture

Abstract Standard procedures for capture–mark–recapture modelling (CMR) for the study of animal demography include running goodness-of-fit tests on a general starting model. A frequent reason for poor model fit is heterogeneity in local survival among individuals captured for the first time and those already captured or seen on previous occasions. This deviation is technically termed a transience effect. In specific cases, simple, uni-state CMR modeling showing transients may allow researchers to assess the role of these transients on population dynamics. Transient individuals nearly always have a lower local survival probability, which may appear for a number of reasons. In most cases, transients arise due to permanent dispersal, higher mortality, or a combination of both. In the case of higher mortality, transients may be symptomatic of a cost of first reproduction. A few studies working at large spatial scales actually show that transients more often correspond to survival costs of first reproduction rather than to permanent dispersal, bolstering the interpretation of transience as a measure of costs of reproduction, since initial detections are often associated with first breeding attempts. Regardless of their cause, the loss of transients from a local population should lower population growth rate. We review almost 1000 papers using CMR modeling and find that almost 40% of studies fitting the searching criteria (N = 115) detected transients. Nevertheless, few researchers have considered the ecological or evolutionary meaning of the transient phenomenon. Only three studies from the reviewed papers considered transients to be a cost of first reproduction. We also analyze a long-term individual monitoring dataset (1988–2012) on a long-lived bird to quantify transients, and we use a life table response experiment (LTRE) to measure the consequences of transients at a population level. As expected, population growth rate decreased when the environment became harsher while the proportion of transients increased. LTRE analysis showed that population growth can be substantially affected by changes in traits that are variable under environmental stochasticity and deterministic perturbations, such as recruitment, fecundity of experienced individuals, and transient probabilities. This occurred even though sensitivities and elasticities of these parameters were much lower than those for adult survival. The proportion of transients also increased with the strength of density-dependence. These results have implications for ecological and evolutionary studies and may stimulate other researchers to explore the ecological processes behind the occurrence of transients in capture–recapture studies. In population models, the inclusion of a specific state for transients may help to make more reliable predictions for endangered and harvested species.

scholarly journals Weather influences M. arvalis reproduction but not population dynamics in a 17-year time series

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Giraudoux ◽  
Petra Villette ◽  
Jean-Pierre Quéré ◽  
Jean-Pierre Damange ◽  
Pierre Delattre
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Common Vole ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Female Reproduction ◽  
Population Growth Rates

Abstract Rodent outbreaks have plagued European agriculture for centuries, but continue to elude comprehensive explanation. Modelling and empirical work in some cyclic rodent systems suggests that changes in reproductive parameters are partly responsible for observed population dynamics. Using a 17-year time series of Microtus arvalis population abundance and demographic data, we explored the relationship between meteorological conditions (temperature and rainfall), female reproductive activity, and population growth rates in a non-cyclic population of this grassland vole species. We found strong but complex relationships between female reproduction and climate variables, with spring female reproduction depressed after cold winters. Population growth rates were, however, uncorrelated with either weather conditions (current and up to three months prior) or with female reproduction (number of foetuses per female and/or proportion of females reproductively active in the population). These results, coupled with age-structure data, suggest that mortality, via predation, disease, or a combination of the two, are responsible for the large multi-annual but non-cyclic population dynamics observed in this population of the common vole.

scholarly journals Contrasting effects of climate on grey heron, malleefowl and barn owl populations

2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Boyle ◽  
Jim Hone
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Population Growth Rate ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Barn Owl ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Grey Heron

Context The population dynamics of many wildlife species are associated with fluctuations in climate. Food and abundance may also influence wildlife dynamics. Aims The present paper aims to evaluate the relative effects of climate on the annual instantaneous population growth rate (r) of the following three bird species: grey heron and barn owl in parts of Britain and malleefowl in a part of Australia. Methods A priori hypotheses of mechanistic effects of climate are derived and evaluated using information theoretic and regression analyses and published data for the three bird species. Climate was measured as the winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) for herons and owls, and rainfall and also the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) for malleefowl. Key results Population dynamics of grey heron were positively related to the winter NAO, and of malleefowl were positively related to annual rainfall and related in a non-linear manner to SOI. By contrast, population dynamics of barn owl were very weakly related to climate. The best models for the grey heron differed between time periods but always included an effect of the NAO. Conclusions The annual population growth rate of grey heron, malleefowl and barn owl show contrasting relationships with climate, from stronger (heron and malleefowl) to weaker (barn owl). The results were broadly consistent with reported patterns but differed in some details. Interpretation of the effects of climate on the basis of analyses rather than visual assessment is encouraged. Implications Effects of climate differ among species, so effects of future climate change may also differ.

DETRITUS AS A FACTOR INFLUENCING POPULATION GROWTH RATES OF THREE TENEBRIONID BEETLES IN STORED CORN

1989 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 454-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard T. Arbogast
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Tribolium Castaneum ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Population Growth Rate ◽  
Prime Factor ◽  
Fine Dust ◽  
Stored Grain ◽  
Population Growth Rates ◽  
Insect Activity

Experiments showed that changes in population growth rate due to detritus produced by insect activity in stored grain varies with species and is a prime factor determining ecological succession of secondary grain pests. Cynaeus angustus (LeConte), Latheticus oryzae Waterhouse, and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) were reared on a 1:1 mixture of whole and cracked corn. On this diet, T. castaneum showed the highest rate of population growth and L. oryzae the lowest. Population growth of T. castaneum and L. oryzae was stimulated by adding fine dust (collected from infested corn) or dead moths to the diet, and this effect was much greater in L. oryzae than in T. castaneum. Population growth of C. angustus (as indicated by number of adults) was not affected by supplementation of the diet, but larger larval populations were produced on supplemented corn. The results are related to previously reported observations of succession in stored corn.

Population Dynamics of Crenate Broomrape (Orobanche crenata) in Faba Bean (Vicia faba)

Weed Science ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 563-567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisca Lopez-Granados ◽  
Luis Garcia-Torres
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Faba Bean ◽  
Population Growth Rate ◽  
Spatial Dispersion ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Orobanche Crenata ◽  
Soil Temperatures

Progression of crenate broomrape population density (PD, number of emerged plants m-2) in faba bean was studied over 8 yr in Spain. Spatial dispersion and effect of climatic conditions on parasite population growth rate (PGR) also were studied. With repeated cropping of faba bean, infestations of crenate broomrape increased from an initial PD of 0.15 to an average of 26, with a maximum of about 40 to 45. The average population growth rate (PGR, ratio between the PD of any 2 consecutive years) was approximately 3. However, this figure varied widely among localities and years, from 0.8 to 7.7. A highly significant relationship (P = 0.01) was found between PGR and rainfall and soil temperatures during December to February, months of crop vegetative growth. Dispersion of crenate broomrape infestations mainly followed direction of crop rows, most likely due to the effect of tillage and harvesting operations, which were the same direction as sowing.

Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Population Growth Rates Based on the Coalescent

Genetics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 149 (1) ◽  
pp. 429-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary K Kuhner ◽  
Jon Yamato ◽  
Joseph Felsenstein
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Maximum Likelihood ◽  
Maximum Likelihood Estimation ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Population Growth Rate ◽  
Likelihood Estimation ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Population Growth Rates ◽  
Neutral Mutation Rate

Abstract We describe a method for co-estimating 4Neμ (four times the product of effective population size and neutral mutation rate) and population growth rate from sequence samples using Metropolis-Hastings sampling. Population growth (or decline) is assumed to be exponential. The estimates of growth rate are biased upwards, especially when 4Neμ is low; there is also a slight upwards bias in the estimate of 4Neμ itself due to correlation between the parameters. This bias cannot be attributed solely to Metropolis-Hastings sampling but appears to be an inherent property of the estimator and is expected to appear in any approach which estimates growth rate from genealogy structure. Sampling additional unlinked loci is much more effective in reducing the bias than increasing the number or length of sequences from the same locus.

scholarly journals Devil in the details: growth, productivity, and extinction risk of a data-sparse devil ray

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastián A. Pardo ◽  
Holly K. Kindsvater ◽  
Elizabeth Cuevas-Zimbrón ◽  
Oscar Sosa-Nishizaki ◽  
Juan Carlos Pérez-Jiménez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Population Growth Rate ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Somatic Growth ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Fishing Mortality ◽  
Population Growth Rates ◽  
Size At Age

Devil rays (Mobulaspp.) face rapidly intensifying fishing pressure to meet the ongoing international trade and demand for their gill plates. This has been exacerbated by trade regulation of manta ray gill plates following their 2014 CITES listing. Furthermore, the paucity of information on growth, mortality, and fishing effort for devil rays make quantifying population growth rates and extinction risk challenging. Here, we use a published size-at-age dataset for a large-bodied devil ray species, the Spinetail Devil Ray (Mobula japanica), to estimate somatic growth rates, age at maturity, maximum age and natural and fishing mortality. From these estimates, we go on to calculate a plausible distribution of the maximum intrinsic population growth rate (rmax) and place the productivity of this large devil ray in context by comparing it to 95 other chondrichthyan species. We find evidence that larger devil rays have low somatic growth rate, low annual reproductive output, and low maximum population growth rates, suggesting they have low productivity. Devil ray maximum intrinsic population growth ratermaxis very similar to that of manta rays, indicating devil rays can potentially be driven to local extinction at low levels of fishing mortality. We show that fishing rates of a small-scale artisanal Mexican fishery were up to three times greater than the natural mortality rate, and twice as high as our estimate ofrmax, and therefore unsustainable. Our approach can be applied to assess the limits of fishing and extinction risk of any species with indeterminate growth, even with sparse size-at-age data.

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