TY - JOUR
T1 - Mate location, population growth and species extinction
AU - Wells, Harrington
AU - Strauss, Eric G.
AU - Rutter, Michael A.
AU - Wells, Patrick H.
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank Dr. John Hafner and Dr. James Stewart for critically reviewing this manuscript and providing positive suggestions for its improvement. This work was partially supported through US Department of Agriculture grant 9303936, by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage program, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
PY - 1998/12
Y1 - 1998/12
N2 - The effects of mate location efficiency on the dynamics of population growth and extinction were modeled with a view towards future species conservation efforts. Mate location is shown to be based on the Allee principle. Higher population densities produce greater mate location success rates. Low population densities generate population growth rates that are smaller than mortality rates, and, thus, produce a condition leading to species extinction. A survey of animal phyla suggests that selection for behaviors, morphology and physiology, which either temporarily increase mating season population densities or effectively increase population densities by increasing the distance from which a mate can be recognized, has Shaped the evolution of species. A mechanism is provided for understanding this process of extinction, and a framework is presented for constructing a management plan for species at risk.
AB - The effects of mate location efficiency on the dynamics of population growth and extinction were modeled with a view towards future species conservation efforts. Mate location is shown to be based on the Allee principle. Higher population densities produce greater mate location success rates. Low population densities generate population growth rates that are smaller than mortality rates, and, thus, produce a condition leading to species extinction. A survey of animal phyla suggests that selection for behaviors, morphology and physiology, which either temporarily increase mating season population densities or effectively increase population densities by increasing the distance from which a mate can be recognized, has Shaped the evolution of species. A mechanism is provided for understanding this process of extinction, and a framework is presented for constructing a management plan for species at risk.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0006-3207(98)00032-9
DO - 10.1016/S0006-3207(98)00032-9
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0032402654
SN - 0006-3207
VL - 86
SP - 317
EP - 324
JO - Biological Conservation
JF - Biological Conservation
IS - 3
ER -