Population responses to perturbations: Predictions and responses from laboratory mite populations

Benton, T. G., Cameron, T. C. and Grant, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1147-2375 (2004) Population responses to perturbations: Predictions and responses from laboratory mite populations. Journal of Animal Ecology, 73 (5). pp. 983-995. ISSN 1365-2656

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Abstract

1. Mathematical models are frequently used to make predictions of the response of a population to management interventions or environmental perturbations, but it is rarely possible to make controlled or replicated tests of the accuracy of these predictions. 2. We report results from replicated laboratory experiments on populations of a soil mite, Sancassania berlesei, living in 'constant' or 'variable' environments. We experimentally perturbed vital rates, via selective harvesting, and examined the population-level responses. The response depends on the stage manipulated and whether there is environmental variability. Increased mortality usually decreased population size and increased population variability. However, egg mortality in a variable environment increased total population size. 3. We used time-series analysis to construct a stage-based population model of this system, incorporating the responses to both density and variation in food supply. 4. The time-series model qualitatively captures the population dynamics, but does not predict well the way the populations will respond to the change in mortality. Elasticity analysis, conducted on the model's output, therefore did not lead to accurate predictions. 5. The presence of indirect positive population effects of a negative perturbation, but only in a variable environment, suggests that predicting the population response will require the incorporation of density dependence and environmental stochasticity. That the considerable biological complexity of our time-series model did not allow accurate predictions suggests that accurate prediction requires modelling processes within a stage class rather than trying to make do with simple functions of total density.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Environmental Biology Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Resources, Sustainability and Governance (former - to 2018) Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (former - to 2017)
Depositing User:	Rosie Cullington
Date Deposited:	20 May 2011 09:36
Last Modified:	24 Sep 2024 10:03
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/31147
DOI:	10.1111/j.0021-8790.2004.00859.x

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