Influence of weather factors on population dynamics of two lagomorph species based on hunting bag records

Rödel, Heiko G.; Dekker, Jasja

doi:10.1007/s10344-012-0635-1

Cited by 42 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Other long-term studies (8-28 years) on hare population dynamics have shown a strong negative effect of wet summers or springs (Van Wieren et al 2006;Rödel & Dekker 2012), whereas our study did not reveal a correlation between climatic variables and hare population size. This apparent difference may be caused by the fact that none of these other studies simultaneously took bottom-up or top-down factors into account.…”

Section: Abiotic Factors: Flooding Climate and Hare Population Densitycontrasting

confidence: 66%

“…Climate is the second abiotic factor that can directly influence hare mortality (Rödel & Dekker 2012). Climatic data were obtained from the local weather station at Schiermonnikoog.…”

Section: Hare Countsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A number of studies have reported a positive relationship between summer temperature and autumn hare densities (Andersen 1952;Brezinski 1976;Smith et al 2005) and a negative relationship between the amount of rain in spring or summer and autumn hare numbers (Andersen 1952;Brezinski 1976;Smith et al 2005;Seltmann et al 2009;Rödel & Dekker 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…At the same time, an increasing number of studies have documented the importance of climate on European brown hare populations. In short, hares seem to be negatively affected by cold winters, cold springs and wet summers (Marboutin & Hansen 1998;Van Wieren et al 2006;Rödel & Dekker 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Long-term decline in a salt marsh hare population largely driven by bottom-up factors

et al. 2015

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The widespread decline of the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) in Europe has been attributed to both bottom-up and top-down factors, as well as climate change. Few studies have attempted to study the relative importance of these factors considered simultaneously. In this study we tested the hypotheses that hare population density is regulated by bottom-up (food), top-down (predation) or abiotic factors including tidal floods and climatic conditions. We related data on hare population density on a relatively isolated island to changes in surface area of suitable vs. unsuitable vegetation for forage, predator densities, flooding parameters and climatic variables. During the study period (1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012), hare numbers decreased from 580 to 219. Estimated population density was positively correlated with the cover of short, intermediate successional vegetation types and was negatively correlated with the cover of tall, late successional vegetation types. These findings corroborate results from earlier experimental studies that reported a strong aversion of hares to tall vegetation. Additionally, we found indications that raptor population density and unusually high floods also exerted negative effects on hare population density. We conclude that bottom-up factors (the availability of suitable forage) are the main regulators of the studied hare population. This suggests that the importance of bottomup effects has been underestimated and could explain leporid population decline in areas that have experienced a similar increase in tall, unsuitable vegetation. RÉSUMÉLe déclin généralisé des populations de lièvre d'Europe (Lepus europaeus) a été attribué à la fois à des facteurs ascendants et descendants, ainsi qu'au changement climatique. Peu d'études ont tenté d'évaluer l'importance relative de ces facteurs lorsque considérés simultanément. Dans la présente étude, nous avons testé les hypothèses selon lesquelles la densité de population de lièvre est régulée par des facteurs ascendants (nourriture), des facteurs descendants (prédation) et des facteurs abiotiques tels que les inondations dues aux marées et les conditions climatiques. Nous avons comparé les données de densité de population de lièvre d'une île relativement isolée aux changements de la superficie de végétation adéquate ou non pour le lièvre, de densité de prédateurs, des paramètres d'inondations et des variables climatiques. Pendant la période étudiée (1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012), le nombre de lièvres a diminué de 580 à 219. La densité de population estimée était positivement corrélée au recouvrement de la végétation courte de milieu de succession et négativement corrélée au recouvrement de la végétation haute de fin de succession. Ces résultats corroborent ceux d'études expérimentales antérieures qui ont montré une forte aversion des lièvres pour la végétation haute. De plus, nos résultats sugg...

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Section: Abiotic Factors: Flooding Climate and Hare Population Densitycontrasting

confidence: 66%

“…Climate is the second abiotic factor that can directly influence hare mortality (Rödel & Dekker 2012). Climatic data were obtained from the local weather station at Schiermonnikoog.…”

Section: Hare Countsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Long-term decline in a salt marsh hare population largely driven by bottom-up factors

et al. 2015

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“…Extrinsic factors such as climate and weather can strongly impact on demographic parameters and resulting animal population trends (Leirs et al, 1997;Lande et al, 2003;Rödel et al, 2004;Rödel and Dekker, 2012;Stenseth et al, 2002). On the one hand the effects of extrinsic factors on population demography can constitute a stochastic process, e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small-scale altitudinal effects on reproduction in bank voles

Hille

Rödel

2014

Mammalian Biology

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a b s t r a c tElevation gradients and corresponding changes in environment have the potential to affect seasonal reproduction and mortality and hence the seasonal age structure of animal populations. This has been frequently shown in mammals and birds on larger geographic scales, but evidence for small-scale gradient effects is scanty. We studied such small scale altitudinal effects on the proportions of juveniles in a population of bank voles (Myodes glareolus) in a forested habitat along an elevation gradient of 355 m. This was done by regular live trapping in different altitudes over a two-year period. We also measured altitudinal differences in ambient temperatures and vegetational parameters in order to shed light on the underlying mechanisms of such purported differences in age structure. As could be expected for a seasonal breeder, the proportion of juveniles showed an initial increase in spring, an optimum in summer and a subsequent regression in early autumn, reflecting the seasonal pattern of reproduction. In addition, there was evidence for altitudinal effects on the occurrence of juveniles, which was decreased in higher altitudes, assumingly driven by altitudinal differences in onset and/or intensity of annual breeding activity. This altitudinal gradient in juvenile occurrence was partly explained by corresponding differences in ambient temperatures. Furthermore, there was good support that the higher abundance of herbs in lower altitudes played an important role in explaining the altitudinal differences in the proportion of juveniles. In conclusion, our study strongly supports the existence of altitudinal small-scale gradient effects on reproductive parameters in a small rodent, most probably due to the action of altitude-related factors such as microclimate and vegetational parameters.

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