Open AccessFluctuations of an introduced population of Svalbard reindeer: the effects of density dependence and climatic variation
Author(s) -
Aanes Ronny,
Sæther BerntErik,
Øritsland Nils Are
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
ecography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.973
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1600-0587
pISSN - 0906-7590
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0587.2000.tb00300.x
Subject(s) - density dependence , population density , arctic , population , population growth , variation (astronomy) , precipitation , ecology , climate change , population size , growth rate , climate variation , environmental science , physical geography , geography , biology , demography , mathematics , meteorology , physics , geometry , sociology , astrophysics
The relative contribution of density‐dependent and density‐independent factors on variation in the population growth rate of an introduced population Svalbard reindeer was studied by time series analysis. No significant effects of either direct or delayed density‐dependence were found. Annual variation in population growth rate was strongly negatively related to amount of precipitation during winter (i.e. high growth rates occurred when winters were dry). There was no significant relationship between the NAO‐index and the population growth rate. However, there was an interaction between population density and the climatic variables, i.e. the effect of climate was stronger at high densities. These results support the view that population fluctuations of arctic ungulates are strongly influenced by stochastic variation in climate.