Predator population dynamics under a cyclic prey regime: numerical responses, demographic parameters and growth rates. Oikos
The consequences of cyclic fluctuations in abundance of prey species on predator continue to improve our understanding of the mechanisms behind population regulation. Among predators, vole-eating raptors usually respond to changes in prey abundance with no apparent time-lag and therefore contradict...
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ftciteseerx:oai:CiteSeerX.psu:10.1.1.460.621 2023-05-15T15:56:38+02:00 Predator population dynamics under a cyclic prey regime: numerical responses, demographic parameters and growth rates. Oikos Re Millon Vincent Bretagnolle The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives 2008 application/pdf http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.460.621 http://www.cebc.cnrs.fr/publipdf/2008/MO117.pdf en eng http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.460.621 http://www.cebc.cnrs.fr/publipdf/2008/MO117.pdf Metadata may be used without restrictions as long as the oai identifier remains attached to it. http://www.cebc.cnrs.fr/publipdf/2008/MO117.pdf text 2008 ftciteseerx 2016-01-08T06:33:37Z The consequences of cyclic fluctuations in abundance of prey species on predator continue to improve our understanding of the mechanisms behind population regulation. Among predators, vole-eating raptors usually respond to changes in prey abundance with no apparent time-lag and therefore contradict predictions from the predatorprey theory. In such systems, the interplay between demographic traits and population growth rate in relation to prey abundance remains poorly studied, yet it is crucial to characterize the link between ecological processes and population changes. Using a mechanistic approach, we assessed the demographic rates associated to the direct and indirect numerical responses of a specialist raptor (Montagu’s harrier) to its cyclic prey (common vole), using long term data from two adjacent study sites in France. First-year survival rates were weakly affected by vole abundance, probably due to the fact that Montagu’s harriers are trans-Saharan migrants and thus escape the vole collapse occurring in autumnwinter. Recruitment of yearling as well as breeding propensity of experienced adult females were strongly affected by vole abundance and at least partially shaped the trajectory of the breeding population. We argued that the strong density dependent signal detected in predator time series was mostly the phenomenological consequence of the positive direct numerical response of harriers to vole abundance. Accounting for this, we proposed a method to assess density dependence in predator relying on a cyclic prey. Finally, the variation in Montagu’s harrier population growth rates was best explained by overwinter growth rates of the prey population and to a lesser extent by previous residual predator density. Theoretical investigations of predatorprey interactions have highly contributed to the development of population ecology, since seminal papers pointing out the inherent tendency of predatorprey systems to oscillate (Lotka 1925 Text Common vole Unknown |
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English |
description |
The consequences of cyclic fluctuations in abundance of prey species on predator continue to improve our understanding of the mechanisms behind population regulation. Among predators, vole-eating raptors usually respond to changes in prey abundance with no apparent time-lag and therefore contradict predictions from the predatorprey theory. In such systems, the interplay between demographic traits and population growth rate in relation to prey abundance remains poorly studied, yet it is crucial to characterize the link between ecological processes and population changes. Using a mechanistic approach, we assessed the demographic rates associated to the direct and indirect numerical responses of a specialist raptor (Montagu’s harrier) to its cyclic prey (common vole), using long term data from two adjacent study sites in France. First-year survival rates were weakly affected by vole abundance, probably due to the fact that Montagu’s harriers are trans-Saharan migrants and thus escape the vole collapse occurring in autumnwinter. Recruitment of yearling as well as breeding propensity of experienced adult females were strongly affected by vole abundance and at least partially shaped the trajectory of the breeding population. We argued that the strong density dependent signal detected in predator time series was mostly the phenomenological consequence of the positive direct numerical response of harriers to vole abundance. Accounting for this, we proposed a method to assess density dependence in predator relying on a cyclic prey. Finally, the variation in Montagu’s harrier population growth rates was best explained by overwinter growth rates of the prey population and to a lesser extent by previous residual predator density. Theoretical investigations of predatorprey interactions have highly contributed to the development of population ecology, since seminal papers pointing out the inherent tendency of predatorprey systems to oscillate (Lotka 1925 |
author2 |
The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives |
format |
Text |
author |
Re Millon Vincent Bretagnolle |
spellingShingle |
Re Millon Vincent Bretagnolle Predator population dynamics under a cyclic prey regime: numerical responses, demographic parameters and growth rates. Oikos |
author_facet |
Re Millon Vincent Bretagnolle |
author_sort |
Re Millon |
title |
Predator population dynamics under a cyclic prey regime: numerical responses, demographic parameters and growth rates. Oikos |
title_short |
Predator population dynamics under a cyclic prey regime: numerical responses, demographic parameters and growth rates. Oikos |
title_full |
Predator population dynamics under a cyclic prey regime: numerical responses, demographic parameters and growth rates. Oikos |
title_fullStr |
Predator population dynamics under a cyclic prey regime: numerical responses, demographic parameters and growth rates. Oikos |
title_full_unstemmed |
Predator population dynamics under a cyclic prey regime: numerical responses, demographic parameters and growth rates. Oikos |
title_sort |
predator population dynamics under a cyclic prey regime: numerical responses, demographic parameters and growth rates. oikos |
publishDate |
2008 |
url |
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.460.621 http://www.cebc.cnrs.fr/publipdf/2008/MO117.pdf |
genre |
Common vole |
genre_facet |
Common vole |
op_source |
http://www.cebc.cnrs.fr/publipdf/2008/MO117.pdf |
op_relation |
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.460.621 http://www.cebc.cnrs.fr/publipdf/2008/MO117.pdf |
op_rights |
Metadata may be used without restrictions as long as the oai identifier remains attached to it. |
_version_ |
1766392026198179840 |