Impacts of breeder loss on social structure, reproduction and population growth in a social canid

摘要: Summary 1. The importance of individuals to the dynamics populations may depend on reproductive status, especially for species with complex social structure. Loss in socially could disproportionately affect population by destabilizing structure and reducing growth. Alternatively, compensatory mechanisms such as rapid replacement breeders result little disruption. impact breeder loss remains poorly understood. 2. We evaluated effect stability, recruitment growth grey wolves (Canis lupus) Denali National Park Preserve, Alaska using a 26-year dataset 387 radiocollared wolves. Harvest breeding is highly contentious conservation management issue worldwide, unknown population-level consequences. 3. Breeder preceded 77% cases (n = 53) pack dissolution from 1986 2012. Packs were more likely dissolve if female or both lost size was small. increased probability dissolution, because timing harvest coincided season Rates denning successful uniformly high packs that did not experience loss; however, exhibited lower rates. mortality had no significant effects immediate longer term dynamics. 4. Our results indicate context dependent. group persistence, reproduction be greatest when average sizes are small occurs during season. This study highlights maintaining cohesion species, but at level resilient disruption through strong mechanisms.