Population dynamics of badgers (Meles meles) in Oxfordshire, UK:: numbers, density and cohort life histories, and a possible role of climate change in population growth
Population dynamics of badgers (Meles meles) in Oxfordshire, UK:: numbers, density and cohort life histories, and a possible role of climate change in population growth
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DOI：
10.1017/s0952836902000158
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发表时间：
2002-01-01
影响因子：
2
通讯作者：
Newman, C
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Macdonald, DW;Newman, C
1987年至1996年间，威瑟姆森林的成年獾数量从60只增加到228只。种群占据的面积没有变化，因此密度也从10只成年獾/km(2)上升到38只/km(2)。与此同时，近年来英国獾的数量也在增加。这种增加是獾保护改善或栖息地变化的结果的假设在这个地点可以被拒绝。相反，研究人员调查了人口增加与气候变化可能导致的天气模式变化之间的联系。特别值得注意的是，温暖的冬天和1月份獾体重增加之间的相关性。此外，人口内部的社会空间结构调整可能是使高密度具有可持续性的机制。威瑟姆獾数量的增加并没有影响到种群的性别比例，在整个研究过程中，性别比例一直保持相对稳定。
Between 1987 and 1996 the numbers of badgers Meles meles in Wytham Woods rose from 60 to 228 adults. The area occupied by the population has not changed and thus density has also risen from 10 adult badgers/km(2) to 38/km(2). This rise parallels an increase in badger abundance seen across Britain in recent years. The hypothesis that this increase is either the consequence of improved badger protection or of changes in habitat can be rejected for this site. Instead, a link between increasing numbers and changing weather patterns, possibly resulting from climate change, is investigated. In particular, attention is drawn to a correlation between mild winters and heavier body weights of badgers in January. Furthermore socio-spatial restructuring within the population may be the mechanism that has permitted high density to be sustainable. The increase in badger numbers at Wytham has not affected population sex ratio, which has remained relatively constant at parity throughout the study.