Distribution of Population Declines in Large Mammals

Uncertainty exists in time persistence estimates of animal populations because of sampling error, demographic or environmental stochasticity, changes in genetic structure, or catastrophes. A review of studies of large mammal population crashes reveals some discrepancies in data handling, such as mul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Conservation biology 1999-02, Vol.13 (1), p.199-201
Main Authors: Erb, John D., Boyce, Mark S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Clines
Comments
Conservation biology
Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife
Demography
Depopulation
Die off
Disasters
Environmental conservation
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Herbivores
Histograms
Mammalia
Mammals
Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking
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Summary:Uncertainty exists in time persistence estimates of animal populations because of sampling error, demographic or environmental stochasticity, changes in genetic structure, or catastrophes. A review of studies of large mammal population crashes reveals some discrepancies in data handling, such as multiple declines that may result from one catastrophic event, or failure to establish that declines are not due to migration. While the frequency and severity of catastrophic events may be important to the persistence of animal populations, such events cannot be predicted. The distinction between environmental stochasticity and catastrophes probably is artificial and should be eliminated. Catastrophes should be incorporated into population viability analyses.
ISSN:0888-8892
1523-1739
DOI:10.1046/j.1523-1739.1999.97426.x