Density-dependent selection in a fluctuating ungulate population

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
P R MoorcroftT H Clutton-Brock

Abstract

Despite considerable theoretical interest no direct examples of density-dependent natural selection acting on simple polymorphic variation have been documented in a natural population. Here we show that the magnitude of selective differences in survival between phenotypes in two conspicuous polymorphisms of coat colour and horn type in Soay sheep Ovis aries living on St Kilda, Scotland are associated with marked changes in population density. Selection is strongest in years of high density but weak in years of low density. In addition to direct observations of density-dependent 'soft' selection in a natural population, the analysis revealed that the level of overcompensatory mortality (responsible for promoting population instability) was higher after accounting for genetic variation in the coat and horn morph traits. The results emphasize the importance of understanding the interaction between selection and population demography for both genetic and ecological studies of natural populations.

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Citations

Feb 18, 2009·Genetics Research·R M SawalhaB Villanueva
Jun 17, 2009·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Fred W Allendorf, Jeffrey J Hard
Jul 25, 2009·Biology Letters·Shane K MaloneyDuncan Mitchell
May 7, 1998·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·T N CoulsonT H Clutton-Brock
Jul 29, 1997·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·T H Clutton-BrockI R Stevenson
Sep 27, 2000·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·E Svensson, B Sinervo
Jan 5, 2002·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·E SvenssonT Comendant
Jul 8, 1997·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·M B SokolowskiK Hughes
Apr 19, 2013·The American Naturalist·Curry J CunninghamThomas P Quinn
Dec 2, 2014·The American Naturalist·Steinar EngenBernt-Erik Sæther
Nov 30, 2005·Journal of Evolutionary Biology·E I Svensson, J Abbott
Jan 30, 2009·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Rolf RødvenIvar Folstad
Jan 6, 2009·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Christophe BonenfantPatrick Bergeron
Dec 1, 2006·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Matthew R RobinsonLoeske E B Kruuk
Jun 14, 2006·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Ilik Saccheri, Ilkka Hanski
Aug 16, 2005·Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology·M J StearJ Buitkamp
May 29, 2007·International Journal for Parasitology·Igor Emelianov
Jun 29, 1996·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·J M PembertonT H Clutton-Brock
Mar 3, 2018·Evolutionary Biology·Erik I Svensson
Sep 1, 2000·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Res AltweggBernt-Erik SAEther
Jan 30, 2021·Ecology Letters·Alix Bouffet-HalleEric Edeline

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