| Abstract: | Life history theory and associated empirical generalizations predict that population growth rate (lambda) in long-lived animals should be most sensitive to adult survival; the rates to which lambda is most sensitive should be those with the smallest temporal variances; and stochastic environmental events should most affect the rates to which lambda is least sensitive. To date, most analyses attempting to examine these predictions have been inadequate, their validity being called into question by problems in estimating parameters, problems in estimating the variability of parameters, and problems in measuring population sensitivities to parameters. We use improved methodologies in these three areas and test these life-history predictions in a population of red-tailed tropicbirds (Phaethon rubricauda). We support our first prediction that lambda is most sensitive to survival rates. However the support for the second prediction that these rates have the smallest temporal variance was equivocal. Previous support for the second prediction may be an artifact of a high survival estimate near the upper boundary of 1 and not a result of natural selection canalizing variances alone. We did not support our third prediction that effects of environmental stochasticity (El Ni?o) would most likely be detected in vital rates to which lambda was least sensitive and which are thought to have high temporal variances. Comparative data-sets on other seabirds, within and among orders, and in other locations, are needed to understand these environmental effects. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 5224609 |
| Citation Author: | Doherty, P. F., Jr.; Schreiber, E. A.; Nichols, J. D.; Hines, J. E.; Link, W. A.; Schenk, G. A.; Schreiber, R. W. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
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| Citation End Page: | 618 |
| Citation Issue: | 3 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Oikos |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 13 |
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| Citation Phsyical Description: | 606-618 |
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| Citation Public Comments: | 6491_Doherty.pdf |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Testing life history predictions in a long-lived seabird: a population matrix approach with improved parameter estimation; 2004; Article; Journal; Oikos; Doherty, P. F., Jr.; Schreiber, E. A.; Nichols, J. D.; Hines, J. E.; Link, W. A.; Schenk, G. A.; Schreiber, R. W. |
| Citation Start Page: | 606 |
| Citation Volume: | 105 |
| Citation Year: | 2004 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Testing life history predictions in a long-lived seabird: a population matrix approach with improved parameter estimation; 2004; Article; Journal; Oikos; Doherty, P. F., Jr.; Schreiber, E. A.; Nichols, J. D.; Hines, J. E.; Link, W. A.; Schenk, G. A.; Schreiber, R. W. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DOCUMENT): | http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118760544/abstract |
| Date Other: | Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:18 -0500 |
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