Habitat Use in Heterogenous Areas: A Study on the Population Dynamics and Genetic Structure of the Florida Marsh Rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris paludicola)
Warren JL. 2000. Habitat Use in Heterogenous Areas: A Study on the Population Dynamics and Genetic Structure of the Florida Marsh Rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris paludicola)
After years of controversy, scientists have reached the conclusion that species occur in habitats of varying quality. Some habitats may contain source populations from which individuals disperse, while others may contain less successful sink populations that persist through continual immigration. Pulliam ( 1988), Pulliam and Danielson (1991 ), Morris ( 1991 ), and Ostfeld (1992) have modeled source-sink dynamics, but empirical data relating habitat quality and population dynamics are scarce. Morris (1984) has shown that the population dynamics of red-back voles are influenced by habitats that differ in food quality and cover. For rodents, superior habitats generally have been associated with high population density, high survival, and high reproductive activity (Van Home 1983, Ostfeld et al. 1985, Ostfeld and Klosterman 1986), but the population dynamics may change as environmental conditions decline. For example, in the Florida Everglades, optimal coastal prairie and marl prairie habitats supporting high population densities of small mammals may rapidly become suboptimal with seasonal flooding. If dry downs follow these periods of flooding, the habitat may become optimal again. [...]
- Type
- Academic
- Authors
- Warren, Jaime
- Date of Issue
- 2000-06-01
- Units
- BISC
- Keywords
- Coastal Prairie, Habitats, hardwood hammocks, marl prairie, seasonal flooding, thesis