Relative Importance of Climate Variables to Population Vital Rates: A Quantitative Synthesis for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken

摘要: Climate change is expected to affect temperature and precipitation means extremes, which can population vital rates. With the added complexity of accounting for both it important understand whether one aspect sufficient predict a particular rate or if are necessary. To compare predictive ability climate extremes with geographic, individual, habitat variables, we performed quantitative synthesis on rates lesser prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus pallidictinus) across their geographic range. We used an information theoretic approach rank models predicting were able three rates: clutch size, nest success, subadult/adult seasonal survival. Of these rates, model was never best predictor even when potentially different relationships between variables ecoregions. Clutch size success influenced by nesting attempt larger clutches greater first attempts than second attempts. also increased latitude but decreased This resulted in similar sizes at southern latitudes northern latitudes. Survival subadults adults, there few estimates subadult survival comparison. Our results show that individual characteristics better variables. may due low samples sizes, restricted our statistical power, lack precision relative microclimates actually experienced individuals. Alternatively, be constrained time lags local adaptation.