Testing the role of parasites in driving the cyclic population dynamics of a gamebird

Ecology Letters - Tập 9 Số 4 - Trang 410-418 - 2006
Stephen M. Redpath1, François Mougeot2, Fiona Leckie2, David A. Elston3, Peter J. Hudson4
1IREC (CSIC – UCLM – JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s.n. 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
2The Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Hill of Brathens, Banchory, Aberdeenshire AB31 4BW, UK
3Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, The Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK
4Biology Department, Mueller Laboratory, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA

Tóm tắt

AbstractThe role of parasites in regulating populations has been the subject of debate. We tested whether parasites caused population cycles in red grouse by manipulating parasite intensities in four, paired 1 km2 study areas during cyclic population declines over 4 years. Parasite reductions led to (1) larger grouse broods, (2) higher population densities in both autumn and spring, (3) reduced autumn population declines in one of two regions, and (4) reduced spring declines, but only in the first year. We infer that a single trophic interaction between a parasite and its host does not explain cyclic dynamics in spring breeding density in this species, although it contributed to the start of a cyclic decline. Another process was operating to drive the populations down. Together with our other results these findings emphasize that both trophic and intrinsic processes may act within populations to cause unstable dynamics.

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Thông tin xuất bản

Ecology Letters

Tập 9 Số 4

410-418

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