Phase-dependent effect of conservation efforts in cyclically fluctuating populations of Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus).

• Predator populations with demographic cycles driven by multi-annual cycles of their key prey resourcecan be expected to be ‘‘cyclic phase sensitive” to management actions. We explored this by means ofmodelling in the case of the highly endangered Fennoscandian arctic fox population which is driven by4-year population cycles in small rodent prey. By using a model in which the management actionimproved arctic fox vital rate through increased resource availability, we show that arctic fox populationgrowth was most improved when management action was applied in the increase and decrease phase ofthe cycle. Except in the low phase of the cycle, the growth rate was more affected when the managementaction worked through improved reproduction than improved survival. There was a synergistic effect tobe gained by performing management action during multiple phases during a demographic cycle. Thuswe recommend that arctic fox conservation programs ought to be continuous in time, but with the highestintensities of management action in the phases of the cycle in which the target population is mostprone to respond.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Ekologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Ecology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecology

Terrestrisk, limnisk och marin ekologi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)