Life Histories and Elasticity Patterns: Perturbation Analysis for Species with Minimal Demographic Data

• DOI: 10.2307/177367
• Publication Date: 2006-04-26T11:25:01Z
• Authors: Selina S. Heppell; Hal Caswell; Larry B. Crowder
• Keywords: Elasticity

Elasticity analysis is a useful tool in conservation biology. The relative impacts of proportional changes fertility, juvenile survival, and adult survival on asymptotic population growth λ (where ln(λ) = r, the intrinsic rate increase) are determined by vital rates (survival, growth, fertility), which also define life history characteristics species or population. Because we do not have good demographic information for most threatened populations, it to categorize according their related elasticity patterns. To this, compared patterns generated tables 50 mammal populations. In age-classified models, sum fertility elasticities each age-class equal; thus, age at maturity has large impact contribution λ. Mammals that mature early litters ("fast" mammals, such as rodents smaller carnivores) generally short lifespans; these populations had relatively high lower elasticities. "Slow" mammals (those late), having few offspring higher (such ungulates marine mammals), much Although certain phylogenetically constrained, found within an order family can be quite diverse, while similar occur distantly taxa. We extended our generalizations developing simple model parameterized mean maturity, annual fertility. this λ, they compare favorably with summed full Leslie matrices. Thus, predicted, even when complete table unavailable. addition classifying management purposes, results simplified show how may change if uncertain. qualitative guide research management, particularly poorly known species, first step larger modeling effort determine viability.