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The population increase of common guillemots Uria aalge on Skomer Island is explained by intrinsic demographic properties

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 10:01 authored by Meade, J, Hatchwell, BJ, Julia BlanchardJulia Blanchard, Birkhead, TR
The population of common guillemots Uria aalge on Skomer Island, Wales has been monitored since 1963, and in the last 30 yr has increased at an almost constant rate of 5% yr−1. A previous attempt to model the population based on intrinsic demographic parameters estimated over just five years failed to explain the observed population increase, probably because the estimate of juvenile survival was too low. This raised the possibility that immigration fuelled the population increase. Here we use > 30 yr of detailed field observations to re-estimate key population parameters (productivity, adult survival and juvenile survival) in order to model the population. We show that the observed rate of increase can be explained by these intrinsic parameters, and we therefore conclude that immigration is not necessary to generate the observed population growth.

History

Publication title

Journal of Avian Biology

Volume

44

Pagination

55-61

ISSN

0908-8857

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Blackwell Munksgaard

Place of publication

35 Norre Sogade, Po Box 2148, Copenhagen, Denmark, Dk-1016

Rights statement

Copyright 2013 The Authors.Journal of Avian Biology Copyright 2013 Nordic Society Oikos

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Coastal or estuarine biodiversity

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