Social and Demographic Effects of Anthropogenic Mortality: A Test of the Compensatory Mortality Hypothesis in the Red Wolf

摘要: Whether anthropogenic mortality is additive or compensatory to natural in animal populations has long been a question of theoretical and practical importance. Theoretically, under density-dependent conditions compensate for through decreases and/or increases productivity, but recent studies large carnivores suggest that can be fully thereby constrain annual survival population growth rate. Nevertheless, mechanisms underlying either effects continue poorly understood. Using long-term data on reintroduced the red wolf, we tested evidence vs. rates, preservation reproductive success breeding pairs. We found had strong effect rate at low density, though there was compensation high density. When involving death breeder, also rates pair dissolution, resulting net decrease existing However, disbanding pack following breeder resulted fewer recruits per litter relative stable packs, no relationship between dissolution Thus propose short-term wolf density were primarily result direct adults rather than indirect socially-mediated reduced recruitment. Finally, demonstrate capita recruitment proportion became declined steeply with increasing suggesting potential anthropogenically-mediated regulation.