Temporal Variation in Fitness Components and Population Dynamics of Large Herbivores
Abstract
▪ Abstract In large-herbivore populations, environmental variation and density dependence co-occur and have similar effects on various fitness components. Our review aims to quantify the temporal variability of fitness components and examine how that variability affects changes in population growth rates. Regardless of the source of variation, adult female survival shows little year-to-year variation [coefficient of variation (CV 30%). Old females show senescence in both survival and reproduction. These patterns of variation are independent of differences in body mass, taxonomic group, and ecological conditions. Differences in levels of maternal care may fine-tune the temporal variation of early survival. The immature stage, despite a low relative impact on population growth rate compared with the adult stage, may be the critical component of population dynamics of large herbivores. Observed differences in temporal variation may be more important than estimated relative sensitivity or elasticity in determining the relative demographic impact of various fitness components.
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Fecundity of young females is highly sensitive to environmental variation, including climatic and phenological conditions similar to those documented.
“In general, the fecundity of young females is highly sensitive to environmental variation (Gaillard et al. 2000), including climatic and phenological conditions similar to those we have documented (Fig. 4D, F).”
From Animal migration amid shifting patterns of phenology and predation: lessons from a Yellowstone elk herd (2013) · cites this paper as Gaillard et al. 2000
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- Authors
- Gaillard, J.-M., Festa-Bianchet, M., Yoccoz, N. G., Loison, A., & Toïgo, C.
- Affiliations
- Lyon 1 Université (FR)
- Unité Mixte de Recherche No. 5558 “Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive,” Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne Cedex, 69622 France;
- Venue
- Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics
- Publisher
- Annual Reviews
- Published
- 2000-11
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 367-393
- ISSN
- 0066-4162 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2143565343
- Cited by
- 1,729
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 50 · 2025: 70 · 2024: 52 · 2023: 58 · 2022: 69 · 2021: 80 · 2020: 135 · 2019: 67 · 2018: 64 · 2017: 81 · 2016: 90 · 2015: 71 · 2014: 79 · 2013: 81 · 2012: 60
- FWCI
- 43.24
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Keywords
- large herbivores, population dynamics, density dependence, environmental variability, adult female survival, fecundity, juvenile survival, senescence, maternal care, population growth rate, relative sensitivity, interannual variability
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