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Individuals and populations: the effects of social behaviour on population dynamics in deer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2011

T. H Clutton-Brock ,
F. E Guinness  and
S. D Albon
T. H Clutton-Brock
Affiliation:
Large Animal Research Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, 34A Storeys Way. Cambridge CB3 ODT, England
F. E Guinness
Affiliation:
Large Animal Research Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, 34A Storeys Way. Cambridge CB3 ODT, England
S. D Albon
Affiliation:
Large Animal Research Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, 34A Storeys Way. Cambridge CB3 ODT, England
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Synopsis

In the red deer population of the Isle of Rhum, the effects of increasing population density on reproduction and survival vary with the individual's sex, age. reproductive status, home-range quality, group size and social rank. Males are generally more strongly influenced than females. Within both sexes, individuals that are at an initial competitive disadvantage are generally most strongly influenced by rising density.

These differences are likeh to have far-reaching consequences. In particular, they may help to explain why dense deer populations commonly have female biased adult sex ratios: why calculations of maximum sustainable yield commonh overestimate the number of animals that can be culled; and why some populations that are not subiect to animal or human predation stabilize while others oscillate.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Section B: Biological Sciences , Volume 82 , Issue 4: Deer, their biology, behaviour and impact , 1984 , pp. 275 - 290
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1984

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