Importance of Buffer Mechanisms for Population Viability Analysis

Grimm, Volker; Revilla, Eloy; Groeneveld, Jürgen; Kramer‐Schadt, Stephanie; Schwager, Monika; Tews, Jörg; Wichmann, Matthias; Jeltsch, Florian

doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2005.000163.x

Cited by 48 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…In addition, our results bring empirical support to the growing body of theoretical studies suggesting that failure to account for the influence of non-breeders (e.g. floaters) on estimates of stochastic population dynamics may lead to incorrect projections of population growth and extinction risk [11,19,49].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

“…Indeed, buffer mechanisms have been suggested to reduce the variation in population growth rates associated with the environmental noise [19], which in turn decreases the time populations spend at low abundances levels [48] and, consequently, may reduce the extinction risk of small populations subjected to negative effects of stochasticity. This theoretical scenario is likely to occur in our study system, where floaters buffer the extinction risk of small local populations subjected to both demographic and environmental stochasticity [5].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Floaters may buffer the extinction risk of small populations: an empirical assessment

Robles

Ciudad

2017

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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The high extinction risk of small populations is commonly explained by reductions in fecundity and breeder survival associated with demographic and environmental stochasticity. However, ecological theory suggests that population extinctions may also arise from reductions in the number of floaters able to replace the lost breeders. This can be particularly plausible under harsh fragmentation scenarios, where species must survive as small populations subjected to severe effects of stochasticity. Using a woodpecker study in fragmented habitats (2004 -2016), we provide here empirical support for the largely neglected hypothesis that floaters buffer population extirpation risks. After controlling for population size, patch size and the intrinsic quality of habitat, populations in patches with floaters had a lower extinction probability than populations in patches without floaters (0.013 versus 0.131). Floaters, which often replace the lost breeders, were less likely to occur in small and low-quality patches, showing that population extirpations may arise from unnoticed reductions in floater numbers in poor-quality habitats. We argue that adequate pools of the typically overlooked floaters may buffer extirpation risks by reducing the detrimental impacts of demographic and environmental stochasticity. However, unravelling the influence of floaters in buffering stochastic effects and promoting population stability require additional studies in an ample array of species and stochastic scenarios.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Floaters may buffer the extinction risk of small populations: an empirical assessment

Robles

Ciudad

2017

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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“…individuals that can quickly replace breeders allows breeding numbers to remain stable (Walters, Crowder & Priddy, 2002;Grimm et al, 2005). As also stressed by Pontier et al (2008), floaters may have very important consequences for the stochastic extinction of bird populations, through a mechanism known as the buffer effect (Grimm et al, 2003(Grimm et al, , 2005.…”

Section: Conclusion: Floaters Necessary But Sometimes Hostilementioning

confidence: 99%

“…As also stressed by Pontier et al (2008), floaters may have very important consequences for the stochastic extinction of bird populations, through a mechanism known as the buffer effect (Grimm et al, 2003(Grimm et al, , 2005. Because bird numbers may exhibit important interannual variations (due to both environmental and demographic stochasticity), the presence of a pool of sexually mature individuals that do not breed acts like a buffer, allowing to compensate for losses in the subpopulation of breeders and, consequently, to improve their persistence probability.…”

Section: Conclusion: Floaters Necessary But Sometimes Hostilementioning

confidence: 99%

Floater strategies and dynamics in birds, and their importance in conservation biology: towards an understanding of nonbreeders in avian populations

Penteriani

Ferrer

Delgado

2011

Animal Conservation

158

159

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Over the past 40 years, the study of animal populations has shifted from a relatively simple science that assumed the most crucial regulating mechanisms were the intrinsic properties of breeders, to a more complex and refined discipline that reflects a greater understanding of populations and their dynamics. Part of this shift has been the explicit recognition of the importance of a previously overlooked nonbreeding component of animal populations, the so-called floaters.Here we review and discuss the various effects that pools of floaters can have on the structure, dynamics and persistence of bird populations. Under some circumstances floaters can be both active intruders that can alter the breeding performance and behavioural traits of territory owners, as well as secretive presences reducing the extinction risk of populations. Floaters are crucial elements in conservation biology, and knowledge of their behaviour and dynamics in avian communities can be a key factor in the success of conservation strategies. Firstly, larger pools of floaters are associated with more stable breeding populations, even in cases where breeding output could be impacted through interference by floaters. Secondly, the effects of habitat loss and mortality rates are frequently ignored in areas where floaters settle, and consequently conservation measures tend to overlook these sites, potentially leading to increased risks of mortality among floaters. Thirdly, because an increase in the proportion of juveniles in the breeding component of a population may be because of increased pre-adult and/or adult mortality rates, a change in the age of breeders has the potential to function as a warning of an imminent decline in breeding populations. Most population studies have only considered the breeding components of animal populations, so it is time now to focus attention on the floater component, wherein the solution to many conservation issues may be found.

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“…They mostly breed in colonies and are philopatric to the natal site, although dispersal (both natal and breeding) occurs. For seabirds, estimation of underlying demographic rates is particularly important because declines in breeding populations can be influenced substantially by nonbreeders and immature birds (Grimm et al 2005, Votier et al 2008a. The influence of non-breeders and immature birds is particularly strong when populations are density-dependent and large numbers of sexually mature birds are queuing for recruitment; these birds can rapidly integrate into the breeding population when additive mortality occurs (Tavecchia et al 2007, Votier et al 2008a.…”

Section: Population Dynamicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research priorities for seabirds: improving conservation and management in the 21st century

Lewison¹,

Oró²,

Godley³

et al. 2012

Endang. Species. Res.

159

136

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Importance of Buffer Mechanisms for Population Viability Analysis

Cited by 48 publications

References 26 publications

Floaters may buffer the extinction risk of small populations: an empirical assessment

Floaters may buffer the extinction risk of small populations: an empirical assessment

Floater strategies and dynamics in birds, and their importance in conservation biology: towards an understanding of nonbreeders in avian populations

Research priorities for seabirds: improving conservation and management in the 21st century

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