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Population dynamics and life history tactics of arthropods from Mediterranean‐type ecosystems
Author(s) -
Stamou G. P.,
Stamou G. V.,
Papatheodorou E. M.,
Argyropoulou M. D.,
Tzafestas S. G.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
oikos
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.672
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1600-0706
pISSN - 0030-1299
DOI - 10.1111/j.0030-1299.2004.12382.x
Subject(s) - population , fecundity , leslie matrix , null hypothesis , north atlantic oscillation , ecology , mediterranean climate , population model , population growth , biology , ecosystem , econometrics , mathematics , geography , demography , meteorology , sociology
The null hypothesis of this paper is that survival of arthropods under the severe Mediterranean conditions involves specific combinations of conservative and conformist traits. To test this hypothesis a modeling approach employing a Leslie‐type matrix model and a fuzzy systems technique for parameter estimation is developed and applied to a model species. The general conclusion is that the results of this paper add support to the null hypothesis, whereas specific conclusions are as follows: 1) matrix models merging demographic and physiological parameters are suitable tools for the simulation of population dynamics of arthropods and further for the discussion of the interplay among life history traits; 2) employing linguistic instead of arithmetic variables, fuzzy approaches allow for the formalization of incomplete and/or missing data exploiting expertise concerning related species; 3) in general, population dynamics of arthropods follow the seasonality of the Mediterranean climate; 4) the basic mechanism underlying skewing phenologies and stochastic equilibrium is identified with the type of temperature dependence of arthropod metabolic activity; 5) under optimal conditions an exponential trend is superimposed on seasonal population dynamics; 6) more realistic conditions involving large‐scale random oscillation in temperature in autumn and spring coupled with small‐scale temperature oscillation in summer and winter result in stochastic equilibrium; 7) moderate contamination of soil and medium‐scale oscillation in temperature result in stable temporal patterns; 8) a sensitivity analysis shows disproportional effect of different demographic parameters on population growth rate. Fecundity of young and middle‐aged adults is most important for the rate of population growth, whereas elder animals are considered an important pool for maintenance of the population.