Integrated population analysis as a direction of the modern biological and ecological researches

Some historical aspects of the formation of population ecology and biology as a separate scientific field are highlighted. It is noted that at the present stage, an integrated approach of studying populations is increasingly used. The work provides information on the main components of complex population studies implemented at the scientific school of plant population ecology created at Sumy National Agrarian University by Prof. Yu.A. Zlobin. The main achievements of the representatives of this school are shown, and it is also noted that, on the basis of their scientific achievements, the number of studied objects is gradually expanding. An example of this is the use of integrated population analysis for the study of protected autochthonous dendrosozophytes of Ukrainian Polissia whose representative, in particular, is Oxycoccus palustris Pers. Using the example of this species, the basic aspects of the application of complex population analysis are described, including determining the size of the population field, population density, size and morphological characteristics of individuals that form the populations, as well as the ontogenetic, size, and vital structure of populations. Based on such studies, swamp and forest-swamp phytocenoses were differentiated according to the degree of favorableness for the existence and functioning of O. palustris populations. At the same time, populations that can be considered as objects of regulated procurement of plant materials of O. palustris were identified. The conditions of the oligotrophic swamp and the grouping of Sphagnetum (cuspidati) eriophorosum (vaginati) are proved to be the most favorable for the formation of Oxycoccus palustris coenopopulations with high population density, vitality, diversity of size structure and balanced structure Populations from this grouping can be considered as centers of regulated harvesting of plant products and plant materials of the investigated species. Compared to swamp, forest-swamp phytocoenoses were less favorable for the formation and existence of coenopopulations of O. palustris, although they also revealed coenopopulations with a complex of high population characteristics Based on the results of studies and elucidation of the characteristics of populations, the original coenopopulation principle of constructing phytocenocompositions from species of natural flora was also proposed and tested. Its essence is that in the selection of certain species in the composition of phytocenocompositions it is necessary to rely on the indicators of phytocenoses, in which its populations have signs of ability for stable and long-term existence in the composition of plant groups The determinants features in this complex are the area of the population field, population density and characteristics of the structure, especially ontogenetic and vitality. According to the first feature of these traits, it is necessary that the populations belong to the group of young, transient or maturing and not to be aging or old, and according to the second – to represent the category of prosperous.

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POPULATION ECOLOGY OF THE NORTHERN SLIMY SALAMANDER (PLETHODON GLUTINOSUS) IN EAST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Journal of North American Herpetology ◽

10.17161/jnah.vi1.11902 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 17-21

Author(s):

John A. Crawford ◽

Andrew R. Kuhns ◽

Mathys J. Meyer

Keyword(s):

Population Density ◽

Population Ecology ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Ecosystem Integrity ◽

East Central ◽

Plethodon Glutinosus ◽

Capture Success ◽

Plethodontid Salamanders ◽

Management Plans ◽

Central Illinois

The importance of plethodontid salamanders in forested habitats has been recognized for decades and more recently plethodontids have been touted as a model taxon for monitoring ecosystem integrity and recovery. However, basic demographic data that are crucial to conservation and management plans are currently lacking for many species and regions. The objectives of our study were to characterize the population density, biomass, and capture success of a peripheral population of Plethodon glutinosus to provide a comparison for eastern populations and set a baseline for future monitoring of Midwestern populations. We estimated the population density of P. glutinosus at our site to be 0.41 salamanders/m2, with an estimated biomass of 0.70 g/m2. We did not find any evidence for temperature or precipitation affecting capture success. Our results showed that our density estimate falls within the range of other population ecology studies of Plethodon and sets a baseline for other peripheral Midwestern populations.

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Reproduction and population structure of the sea cucumber Holothuria tubulosa in the Dardanelles Strait, Turkey

Mediterranean Marine Science ◽

10.12681/mms.1360 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 47 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

H. DERELİ ◽

S. TÜRK ÇULHA ◽

M. ÇULHA ◽

B. H. ÖZALP ◽

A. A. TEKİNAY

Keyword(s):

Population Density ◽

Gonadosomatic Index ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Environmental Parameters ◽

Population Characteristics ◽

High Positive Correlation ◽

Mediterranean Populations ◽

Reproductive Patterns ◽

First Time ◽

The Relationship

In this study, Holothuria tubulosa Gmelin 1791 was investigated from April 2013 to March 2014 in the Dardanelles Strait, to outline the morphological characteristics, reproductive patterns and the relationship between population characteristics and environmental parameters. Between 15 and 30 individuals of this species were sampled monthly from three stations. There was a negative allometry between length and weight, being gutted weight the most reliable measurement for this species. Reproductive patterns of the species were identified the first time for Turkish coasts. By macroscopic examination of the gonads, smallest sizes (gutted length) were measured as 8.4 and 8.1 cm for female and male, respectively. Sex ratio was calculated as 1: 1.1 with differences between seasons. The reproduction of sea cucumbers occurred between August and September after Gonadosomatic Index (GSI) values reached their maximum in July. The species was found down to 10 m depth with a population density of 0.21 / m2, which was rather low compared to previously reported values for Mediterranean populations of this species. There was a high positive correlation between population density and GSI of the species. The highest population density was observed where the largest sea grass meadows are found.

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Recruitment sex ratios in gray-tailed voles (Microtus canicaudus) in response to density, sex ratio, and season

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z03-116 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 81 (8) ◽

pp. 1306-1311 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Monica L Bond ◽

Jerry O Wolff ◽

Sven Krackow

Keyword(s):

Population Density ◽

Sex Ratio ◽

Resource Competition ◽

Sex Ratios ◽

Female Offspring ◽

High Population ◽

Reproductive Value ◽

High Population Density ◽

Adult Sex Ratio ◽

Sex Ratio Adjustment

We tested predictions associated with three widely used hypotheses for facultative sex-ratio adjustment of vertebrates using eight enclosed populations of gray-tailed voles, Microtus canicaudus. These were (i) the population sex ratio hypothesis, which predicts that recruitment sex ratios should oppose adult sex-ratio skews, (ii) the local resource competition hypothesis, which predicts female-biased recruitment at low adult population density and male-biased recruitment at high population density, and (iii) the first cohort advantage hypothesis, which predicts that recruitment sex ratios should be female biased in the spring and male biased in the autumn. We monitored naturally increasing population densities with approximately equal adult sex ratios through the spring and summer and manipulated adult sex ratios in the autumn and measured subsequent sex ratios of recruits. We did not observe any significant sex-ratio adjustment in response to adult sex ratio or high population density; we did detect an influence of time within the breeding season, with more female offspring observed in the spring and more male offspring observed in the autumn. Significant seasonal increases in recruitment sex ratios indicate the capacity of female gray-tailed voles to manipulate their offspring sex ratios and suggest seasonal variation in the relative reproductive value of male and female offspring to be a regular phenomenon.

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Aggregations of masked shrews ( Sorex cinereus ): density-related mating behavior? / Agrégation de musaraignes masquées ( Sorex cinereus ): accouplement relatif à la densité de la population?

Mammalia ◽

10.1515/mamm.70.1-2.86 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 70 (1-2) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Thomas J. Maier ◽

Katherine L. Doyle

Keyword(s):

Population Density ◽

Mating Behavior ◽

High Population ◽

High Population Density ◽

Genetic Analyses ◽

Highly Active ◽

Sorex Cinereus

AbstractLarge aggregations of shrews have been reported and various explanations offered for this seemingly rare behavior; however, there has been little evidence to support any particular interpretation. We observed two small aggregations of highly active vocalizing Sorex cinereus while performing wildlife surveys in forested habitats in central Massachusetts, USA. These observations, in conjunction with a review of other reports, including genetic analyses, strongly suggest that such aggregations of adult Sorex are associated with mating behavior, more readily observed during periods of high population density. Published accounts of such behavior may be rare because primarily large aggregations have been reported; however, smaller breeding aggregations may be common.

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