Life-history strategies associated with local population variability confer regional stability.
A widely held ecological tenet is that, at the local scale, populations of K-selected species (i.e. low fecundity, long lifespan and large body size) will be less variable than populations of r-selected species (i.e. high fecundity, short lifespan and small body size). We examined the relationship between long-term population trends and life-history attributes for 185 bird species in the Czech Republic and found that, at regional spatial scales and over moderate temporal scales (100-120 years), K-selected bird species were more likely to show both large increases and decreases in population size than r-selected species. We conclude that life-history attributes commonly associated with variable populations at the local scale, confer stability at the regional scale.
Pribil
Stanislav
S
Department of Biology, University of Miami, PO Box 249118, Coral Gables, FL 33124-0421, USA.
Houlahan
Jeff E
JE
D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D001824:Body Constitution; D018153:Czech Republic; D005298:Fertility; D008136:Longevity; D011157:Population Dynamics