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Predators reduce extinction risk in noisy metapopulations.

Authors :
Bull JC
Bonsall MB
Source :
PloS one [PLoS One] 2010 Jul 21; Vol. 5 (7), pp. e11635. Date of Electronic Publication: 2010 Jul 21.
Publication Year :
2010

Abstract

Background: Spatial structure across fragmented landscapes can enhance regional population persistence by promoting local "rescue effects." In small, vulnerable populations, where chance or random events between individuals may have disproportionately large effects on species interactions, such local processes are particularly important. However, existing theory often only describes the dynamics of metapopulations at regional scales, neglecting the role of multispecies population dynamics within habitat patches.<br />Findings: By coupling analysis across spatial scales we quantified the interaction between local scale population regulation, regional dispersal and noise processes in the dynamics of experimental host-parasitoid metapopulations. We find that increasing community complexity increases negative correlation between local population dynamics. A potential mechanism underpinning this finding was explored using a simple population dynamic model.<br />Conclusions: Our results suggest a paradox: parasitism, whilst clearly damaging to hosts at the individual level, reduces extinction risk at the population level.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1932-6203
Volume :
5
Issue :
7
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
PloS one
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
20657767
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0011635