Using retrospective life tables to assess the effect of extreme climatic conditions on ungulate demography.

ABSTRACT: In Mediterranean areas, severe drought events are expected to intensify in forthcoming years as a consequence of climate change. These events may increase physiological and reproductive stress of wild populations producing demographic changes and distribution shifts. We used retrospective life tables to understand demographic changes on a wild population after severe drought events. We studied the impact of two extreme events (2003 and 2005) on the population dynamics of our model species, the red deer (Cervus elaphus). During both years, population density was high (40 and 36 ind/100 ha, respectively). Thus, we reconstructed retrospectively the age structure of the female part of the population for the period 2000-2010 by using data of known-age individuals culled during the period

SUBMITTER: Pelaez M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8794714 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature