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Body weight as an indication of density‐dependent population regulation in badgers ( Meles meles ) at Woodchester Park, Gloucestershire
Author(s) -
Rogers L. M.,
Cheeseman C. L.,
Langton S.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1997.tb03857.x
Subject(s) - meles , badger , biology , body weight , population density , demography , population , zoology , density dependence , ecology , endocrinology , sociology
The body weights of badgers were examined to look for density‐dependent effects of the increase in group size at Woodchester Park, Gloucestershire. The weight of badgers in 21 groups were studied from 1978–1993. A significant negative relationship was found between weight and group size in breeding adult females in autumn and winter, and adult males in summer, such that increase in group size caused a decrease in weight. However, these relationships were affected by year‐to‐year changes and random variation, and overall there was no downward trend in body weight. The existence of density‐dependent effects on badger populations at high density was consistent with previous findings