The effect of small-size habitat disturbances on population density and time to extinction of the prairie vole
Authored by T Kostova, T Carlsen
Date Published: 2005
DOI: 10.1016/j.nonrwa.2004.12.004
Sponsors:
United States Department of Energy (DOE)
Platforms:
C++
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
Mathematical description
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
We present a study, based on simulations with SERDYCA, a
spatially-explicit individual-based model of rodent dynamics, on the
relation between population persistence and the presence of numerous
isolated disturbances in the habitat. We are specifically interested in
the effect of disturbances that do not fragment the environment on
population persistence. Our results suggest that the presence of
disturbances in the absence of fragmentation can actually increase the
average time to extinction of the modeled population. The presence of
disturbances decreases population density but can increase the chance
for mating in monogamous species and consequently, the ratio of
juveniles in the population. It thus provides a better chance for the
population to restore itself after a severe period with critically low
population density. We call this the ``disturbance-forced localization
effect{''}. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Tags
mammals
Fragmentation
Survival
Landscape scale
Microtus
Patch