Soay Sheep: Dynamics and Selection in an Island Population

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511550669

Soay Sheep synthesises one of the most detailed studies of demography and dynamics in a naturally regulated population of mammals. Unlike most other large mammals, the Soay sheep population of Hirta in the St Kilda archipelago show persistent oscillations, sometimes increasing or declining by more than 60% in a year. Soay Sheep explores the causes of these oscillations and their consequences for selection on genetic and phenotypic variation within the population, drawing on studies over nearly twenty years of the life-histories and reproductive careers of many individuals. Covering population dynamics, demography and their effects on selection, energetic and resource limitations on the interaction between sheep and parasites, and the adaptive significance of their reproductive characteristics, it provides unique insights into the regulation of other herbivore populations and the effects of environmental change on selection and adaptation. It will be essential reading for vertebrate ecologists, demographers, evolutionary biologists and behavioural ecologists.

‘ A major, very important book in population biology, with first class contributors … a most valuable contribution to the ecology literature. I recommend it most highly.’

Charles J. Krebs - University of British Columbia

‘A remarkable long-term study by a remarkable group of scientists … a pleasure to read... exemplifies how great advances in animal ecology can be achieved through the cooperation of researchers with different skills and interests.’

Marco Festa-Bianchet - Université de Sherbrook

'Soay Sheep will undoubtedly become a classic text in population biology literature. The editors should be acknowledged for producing a book that, even with so many coauthors, follows a coherent style and contains careful cross-referencing across its chapters.'

Source: TRENDS in Ecology and Evolution

- Aa Reduce text
- Aa Enlarge text

View selected items
Save to my bookmarks
Export citations
Download PDF (zip)
Save to Kindle
Save to Dropbox
Save to Google Drive
Save content to
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to .

To save content items to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Please be advised that item(s) you selected are not available.
You are about to save
Your Kindle email address

Please provide your Kindle email.

@free.kindle.com @kindle.com (service fees apply)

By using this service, you agree that you will only keep content for personal use, and will not openly distribute them via Dropbox, Google Drive or other file sharing services

Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Contents
pp v-viii
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

List of contributors
pp ix-xii
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Editors' and Authors' Acknowledgements
pp xiii-xvi
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

1 - Individuals and populations
pp 1-16
- By T. H. Clutton-Brock, University of Cambridge, J. M. Pemberton, University of Edinburgh
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

2 - The sheep of St Kilda
pp 17-51
- By T. H. Clutton-Brock, University of Cambridge, J. M. Pemberton, University of Edinburgh, T. Coulson, University of Cambridge, I. R. Stevenson, University of Stirling, A. D. C. MacColl, University of Sheffield
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

3 - Population dynamics in Soay sheep
pp 52-88
- By T. H. Clutton-Brock, University of Cambridge, B. T. Grenfell, University of Cambridge, T. Coulson, University of Cambridge, A. D. C. MacColl, University of Sheffield, A. W. Illius, University of Edinburgh, M. C. Forchhammer, University of Copenhagen, K. Wilson, University of Stirling, J. Lindström, University of Glasgow, M. J. Crawley, Imperial College London, S. D. Albon, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Banchory: UK
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

4 - Vegetation and sheep population dynamics
pp 89-112
- By M. J. Crawley, Imperial College London, S. D. Albon, Centre Ecology and Hydrology, Banchory, UK, D. R. Bazely, York University, Canada, J. M. Milner, Scottish Agricultural College, Crianlarich, UK, J. G. Pilkington, University of Edinburgh, A. L. Tuke, Imperial College London
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

5 - Parasites and their impact
pp 113-165
- By K. Wilson, University of Stirling, B. T. Grenfell, University of Cambridge, J. G. Pilkington, University of Edinburgh, H. E. G. Boyd, University of Cambridge, F. M. D. Gulland, Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito, USA
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

6 - Mating patterns and male breeding success
pp 166-189
- By J. M. Pemberton, University of Edinburgh, D. W. Coltman, University of Sheffield, J. A. Smith, University of Glasgow, D. R. Bancroft, GPC AG Genome Pharmaceutical Corporation, Munich, Germany
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

7 - Selection on phenotype
pp 190-216
- By J. M. Milner, Scottish Agricultural College, Crianlarich, UK, S. D. Albon, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Banchory, UK, L. E. B. Kruuk, University of Edinburgh, J. M. Pemberton, University of Edinburgh
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

8 - Molecular genetic variation and selection on genotype
pp 217-242
- By J. M. Pemberton, University of Edinburgh, D. W. Coltman, University of Sheffield, D. R. Bancroft, GPC AG Genome Pharmaceutical Corporation, Munich, Germany, J. A. Smith, University of Glasgow, S. Paterson, University of Liverpool
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

9 - Adaptive reproductive strategies
pp 243-275
- By I. R. Stevenson, University of Stirling, P. Marrow, BTexact Technologies, Ipswich, UK, B. T. Preston, University of Stirling, J. M. Pemberton, University of Edinburgh, K. Wilson, University of Stirling
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

10 - The causes and consequences of instability
pp 276-310
- By T. H. Clutton-Brock, University of Cambridge
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Appendix 1 - The flora of St Kilda
pp 311-320
- By M. J. Crawley, Imperial College, London
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Appendix 2 - Inheritance of coat colour and horn type in Hirta Soay sheep
pp 321-327
- By D. W. Coltman, University of Sheffield, J. M. Pemberton, University of Edinburgh
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Appendix 3 - How average life tables can mislead
pp 328-331
- By T. Coulson, University of Cambridge, M. J. Crawley, Imperial College London
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

References
pp 332-379
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Index
pp 380-383
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Plate section
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Metrics

Altmetric attention score

Total number of HTML views: 0

Total number of PDF views: 0 *

Loading metrics...

Total views: 0 *

Loading metrics...

* Views captured on Cambridge Core between #date#. This data will be updated every 24 hours.

Usage data cannot currently be displayed.

Why this information is here

This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.

Accessibility Information

Accessibility compliance for the PDF of this book is currently unknown and may be updated in the future.

Soay Sheep

Dynamics and Selection in an Island Population

This Book has been cited by the following publications. This list is generated based on data provided by Crossref.

Book description

Reviews

Refine List

Actions for selected content:

Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv

Contents
pp v-viii

List of contributors
pp ix-xii

Editors' and Authors' Acknowledgements
pp xiii-xvi

1 - Individuals and populations
pp 1-16

2 - The sheep of St Kilda
pp 17-51

3 - Population dynamics in Soay sheep
pp 52-88

4 - Vegetation and sheep population dynamics
pp 89-112

5 - Parasites and their impact
pp 113-165

6 - Mating patterns and male breeding success
pp 166-189

7 - Selection on phenotype
pp 190-216

8 - Molecular genetic variation and selection on genotype
pp 217-242

9 - Adaptive reproductive strategies
pp 243-275

10 - The causes and consequences of instability
pp 276-310

Appendix 1 - The flora of St Kilda
pp 311-320

Appendix 2 - Inheritance of coat colour and horn type in Hirta Soay sheep
pp 321-327

Appendix 3 - How average life tables can mislead
pp 328-331

References
pp 332-379

Index
pp 380-383

Plate section

Metrics

Altmetric attention score

Full text views

Book summary page views

Accessibility standard: Unknown

Why this information is here

Accessibility Information

Soay Sheep

Dynamics and Selection in an Island Population

Book description

Reviews

Refine List

Actions for selected content:

Save Search

Contents

Metrics

Altmetric attention score

Full text views

Book summary page views

Accessibility standard: Unknown

Why this information is here

Accessibility Information