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On being the right size: food‐limited feedback on optimal body size
Author(s) -
Anthony R.E Sinclair,
John P Parkes
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of animal ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.134
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1365-2656
pISSN - 0021-8790
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2008.01425.x
Subject(s) - odocoileus , biology , carrying capacity , reproduction , population density , ecology , population , vertebrate , predator , population size , zoology , predation , demography , gene , biochemistry , sociology
An insular population of white‐tailed deerOdocoileus virginianusintroduced in 1896 to predator‐free Anticosti Island, Quebec, has caused long‐term changes in the plant community. Food quality declined as did body weight. Although different parameters of reproduction changed, overall reproductive rates remained similar, thus maintaining deer density and promoting further change in habitat. These results show (i) long‐term feedbacks on carrying capacity, (ii) the mechanism for reduction of body mass, and (iii) the lack of strong reduction in reproductive rates to regulate the population at high density, a feature of Eutherians. They are relevant to mechanisms determining the evolution of vertebrate body sizes.