Lack of relationship between simulated fish population responses and their life history traits: inadequate models, incorrect analysis, or site-specific factors?
Authored by Kenneth A Rose
Date Published: 2005
DOI: 10.1139/f05-049
Sponsors:
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
Platforms:
No platforms listed
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
Flow charts
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
Relationships between fish population responses to changes in their
vital rates and commonly available life history traits would be a
powerful screening tool to guide management about species vulnerability, to focus future data collection on species and life stages of concern, and to aid in designing effective habitat enhancements. As an extension
of previous analyses by others, I analyzed the responses to changes in
fecundity and yearling survival of age-structured matrix and
individual-based population models of 17 populations comprising 10
species. Simulations of the matrix models showed that the magnitude of
population responses, but not the relative order of species sensitivity, depended on the state (sustainable or undergoing excessive removals) of
the population. Matrix and individual-based models predicted population
responses that appeared to be unrelated to their species-level life
history traits when responses were plotted on a three-end-point life
history surface. Density-dependent adult growth was added to the lake
trout (Salvelinus namaycush) matrix model, and simulations demonstrated
the potential importance to predicted responses of density-dependent
processes outside the usual spawner-recruit relationship. Four reasons
for the lack of relationship between population responses and life
history traits related to inadequate population models, incorrect
analysis, inappropriate life history model, and important site-specific
factors are discussed.
Tags
Individual-based model
Dynamics
ecology
patterns
Recruitment
Strategies
Rainbow-trout
Density-dependent growth
Fisheries management
Chesapeake bay