Back to Search Start Over

Harvesting can stabilize population fluctuations and buffer the impacts of extreme climatic events

Authors :
Bart Peeters
Vidar Grøtan
Marlène Gamelon
Vebjørn Veiberg
Aline Magdalena Lee
John Fryxell
Steve Albon
Bernt-Erik Sæther
Steinar Engen
Leif Loe
Brage Hansen
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
Authorea, Inc., 2021.

Abstract

Harvesting can magnify the destabilizing effects of environmental perturbations on population dynamics and, thereby, increase extinction risk. However, population-dynamic theory predicts that impacts of harvesting depend on the type and strength of density-dependent regulation. Here, we used logistic population growth models and an empirical reindeer case study to show that low to moderate harvesting can actually buffer populations against environmental perturbations. This occurs because of density-dependent environmental stochasticity, where negative environmental impacts on vital rates are amplified at high population density due to intraspecific resource competition. Simulations from our population models show that even low levels of harvesting may prevent overabundance, thereby dampening population fluctuations and reducing the risk of population collapse and quasi-extinction following environmental perturbations. Thus, depending on the species’ life history and the strength of density-dependent environmental drivers, low to moderate harvesting can improve population resistance to increased climate variability and extreme weather expected under global warming.

Details

Database :
OpenAIRE
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........a430514fbe826333540d1967ca6a1b7e
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.22541/au.163715862.25634478/v1