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Density-dependent effects on physical condition and reproduction in North American elk: an experimental test

  • Population Ecology
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Abstract

Density dependence plays a key role in life-history characteristics and population ecology of large, herbivorous mammals. We designed a manipulative experiment to test hypotheses relating effects of density-dependent mechanisms on physical condition and fecundity of North American elk (Cervus elaphus) by creating populations at low and high density. We hypothesized that if density-dependent effects were manifested principally through intraspecific competition, body condition and fecundity of females would be lower in an area of high population density than in a low-density area. Thus, we collected data on physical condition and rates of pregnancy in each experimental population. Our manipulative experiment indicated that density-dependent feedbacks affected physical condition and reproduction of adult female elk. Age-specific pregnancy rates were lower in the high-density area, although there were no differences in pregnancy of yearlings or in age at peak reproduction between areas. Age-specific rates of pregnancy began to diverge at 2 years of age between the two populations and peaked at 6 years old. Pregnancy rates were most affected by body condition and mass, although successful reproduction the previous year also reduced pregnancy rates during the current year. Our results indicated that while holding effects of winter constant, density-dependent mechanisms had a much greater effect on physical condition and fecundity than density-independent factors (e.g., precipitation and temperature). Moreover, our results demonstrated effects of differing nutrition resulting from population density during summer on body condition and reproduction. Thus, summer is a critical period for accumulation of body stores to buffer animals against winter; more emphasis should be placed on the role of spring and summer nutrition on population regulation in large, northern herbivores.

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Acknowledgements

We appreciate the assistance of Starkey Project personnel. R.G. White, M. Vavra, K.J. Hundertmark, J.S. Sedinger, and P.S. Barboza provided helpful comments on the manuscript. E. Rexstad provided valuable expertise in statistical analysis. This study was funded by the United States Forest Service, the Institute of Arctic Biology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation. This is Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation contribution number 627. All aspects of this research were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Starkey Project, and were in keeping with protocols adopted by the American Society of Mammalogists for field research involving mammals (Animal Care and Use Committee 1998).

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  1. R. Terry. Bowyer

    Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, 83209, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Arctic Biology, and Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, 99775-7000, USA

    Kelley M. Stewart & R. Terry. Bowyer

  2. United States Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, 1401 Gekeler Lane, La Grande, OR, 97850, USA

    Brian L. Dick & John G. Kie

  3. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 1401 Gekeler Lane, La Grande, OR, 97870, USA

    Bruce K. Johnson

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Correspondence to Kelley M. Stewart.

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Stewart, K.M., Bowyer, R.T., Dick, B.L. et al. Density-dependent effects on physical condition and reproduction in North American elk: an experimental test. Oecologia 143, 85–93 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-004-1785-y

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