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Agricultural irrigation mediates climatic effects and density dependence in population dynamics of C hinese striped hamster in N orth C hina P lain
Author(s) -
Yan Chuan,
Xu Lei,
Xu Tongqin,
Cao Xiaoping,
Wang Fusheng,
Wang Shuqing,
Hao Shoushen,
Yang Hefang,
Zhang Zhibin
Publication year - 2013
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.1365-2656.2012.02037.x
Subject(s) - density dependence , disturbance (geology) , population , ecology , population density , environmental science , precipitation , flood myth , climate change , irrigation , floodplain , growing season , geography , biology , meteorology , paleontology , demography , archaeology , sociology
Summary Several studies show that climatic (extrinsic) factors can interact with density‐dependent (intrinsic) factors to alter long‐term population dynamics, yet there is a surprising lack of investigations of how anthropogenic disturbance modifies such dynamics. Such interactions could be especially important in agricultural systems subject to climate change. We investigated the effects of density dependence, climate, recurrent disturbance from flood irrigation and their interactions on the population dynamics of an important rodent pest, the C hinese striped hamster ( C ricetulus barabensis ), over 27 years in the croplands of the N orth C hina P lain. Strong density‐dependent feedbacks occurred at both annual and seasonal scales. While warmer weather increased population sizes in nonbreeding seasons, this effect was counteracted by the negative effect of flood irrigation in breeding seasons. Precipitation showed significant positive effects in nonbreeding seasons, but negative effects in breeding seasons. There were important interactions between intrinsic dynamics, extrinsic dynamics and disturbance. Low temperature significantly increased the strength of density dependence in nonbreeding seasons, whereas intensification of flood irrigation area significantly increased the strength of density dependence but reduced the effect of summer precipitation in breeding seasons. Overall climate change is expected to increase population levels, but anthropogenic disturbance from flood irrigation will help prevent long‐term population increases. The interactions between anthropogenic disturbance and both intrinsic and extrinsic (weather‐driven) population dynamics caution that we need to consider anthropogenic disturbance as an integral component of population responses to climate change.