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Population Ecology Of The Golden Mouse, Robert K. Rose Jan 2008

Population Ecology Of The Golden Mouse, Robert K. Rose

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

An understanding of the population dynamics of a species requires knowledge of the major life-history parameters of a population, including age at maturity, distribution of age classes, and lifetime reproductive contribution of the sexes, sex ratio, length of the breeding season, mean litter size, rates of growth and survival, and life span. Because few long-term studies have been conducted with Ochrotomys nuttalli as the focal species of investigation, only fragmentary information is available for many population parameters. As importantly, densities of golden mice often are low, making them difficult to evaluate statistically. Little has been published on age at maturity …


Revisiting The Classics: Considering Nonconsumptive Effects In Textbook Examples Of Predator–Prey Interactions, Barbara L. Peckarsky, Peter A. Abrams, Daniel I. Bolnick, Lawrence M. Dill, Jonathan H. Grabowski, Barney Luttberg, John L. Orrock, Scott D. Peacor, Evan L. Preisser, Oswald J. Schmitz, Geoffrey C. Trussell Jan 2008

Revisiting The Classics: Considering Nonconsumptive Effects In Textbook Examples Of Predator–Prey Interactions, Barbara L. Peckarsky, Peter A. Abrams, Daniel I. Bolnick, Lawrence M. Dill, Jonathan H. Grabowski, Barney Luttberg, John L. Orrock, Scott D. Peacor, Evan L. Preisser, Oswald J. Schmitz, Geoffrey C. Trussell

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Predator effects on prey dynamics are conventionally studied by measuring changes in prey abundance attributed to consumption by predators. We revisit four classic examples of predator–prey systems often cited in textbooks and incorporate subsequent studies of nonconsumptive effects of predators (NCE), defined as changes in prey traits (e.g., behavior, growth, development) measured on an ecological time scale. Our review revealed that NCE were integral to explaining lynx–hare population dynamics in boreal forests, cascading effects of top predators in Wisconsin lakes, and cascading effects of killer whales and sea otters on kelp forests in nearshore marine habitats. The relative roles of …


From Individuals To Ecosystem Function: Toward An Integration Of Evolutionary And Ecosystem Ecology, Oswald J. Schmitz, Jonathan H. Garbowski, Barbara L. Peckarsky, Evan L. Preisser, Geoffrey C. Trussell, James R. Vonesh Jan 2008

From Individuals To Ecosystem Function: Toward An Integration Of Evolutionary And Ecosystem Ecology, Oswald J. Schmitz, Jonathan H. Garbowski, Barbara L. Peckarsky, Evan L. Preisser, Geoffrey C. Trussell, James R. Vonesh

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

An important goal in ecology is developing general theory on how the species composition of ecosystems is related to ecosystem properties and functions. Progress on this front is limited partly because of the need to identify mechanisms controlling functions that are common to a wide range of ecosystem types. We propose that one general mechanism, rooted in the evolutionary ecology of all species, is adaptive foraging behavior in response to predation risk. To support our claim, we present two kinds of empirical evidence from plant‐based and detritus‐based food chains of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The first kind comes from experiments …