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Age, Sex, Density, Winter Weather, and Population Crashes in Soay Sheep

Coulson, Tim, Catchpole, Edward A., Albon, Steve D., Morgan, Byron J. T., Pemberton, J.M., Clutton-Brock, Tim H., Crawley, M.J., Grenfell, B.T. (2001) Age, Sex, Density, Winter Weather, and Population Crashes in Soay Sheep. Science, 292 (5521). pp. 1528-1531. ISSN 0036-8075. (doi:10.1126/science.292.5521.1528) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:10502)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.292.5521.1528

Abstract

Quantifying the impact of density, extrinsic climatic fluctuations, and demography on population fluctuations is a persistent challenge in ecology. We analyzed the effect of these processes on the irregular pattern of population crashes of Soay sheep on the St. Kilda archipelago, United Kingdom. Because the age and sex structure of the population fluctuates independently of population size, and because animals of different age and sex respond in different ways to density and weather, identical weather conditions can result in different dynamics in populations of equal size. In addition, the strength of density-dependent processes is a function of the distribution of weather events. Incorporating demographic heterogeneities into population models can influence dynamics and their response to climate change.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1126/science.292.5521.1528
Uncontrolled keywords: SURVIVAL; DYNAMICS; UNGULATE; CYCLES; TRENDS
Subjects: Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science)
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences > School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science
Depositing User: Judith Broom
Date Deposited: 06 Nov 2008 19:30 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:49 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/10502 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Catchpole, Edward A..

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Morgan, Byron J. T..

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