title: Estimating density dependence from time series of population age structure.
abstract: Population fluctuations are caused by demographic and environmental stochasticity, time lags due to life history, and density dependence. We model a general life history allowing density dependence within and among age or stage classes in a population undergoing small or moderate fluctuations around a stable equilibrium. We develop a method for estimating the overall strength of density dependence measured by the rate of return toward equilibrium, and we also consider a simplified population description and forecasting using the density-dependent reproductive value. This generality comes at the cost of requiring a time series of the population age or stage structure instead of a univariate time series of adult or total population size. The method is illustrated by analyzing the dynamics of a fully censused population of red deer (Cervus elaphus) based on annual fluctuations of age structure through 21 years.
authors: Department of Biology 0116, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. rlande@ucsd.edu
authors: Russell
authors: R
authors: Lande
authors: Steinar
authors: S
authors: Engen
authors: Bernt-Erik
authors: BE
authors: Saether
authors: Tim
authors: T
authors: Coulson