How intra-stage and inter-stage competition affect overcompensation in density and hydra effects in single-species, stage-structured models

摘要: Understanding and predicting responses to increased mortality is important for conservation biology population management strategies. In stage-structured populations, of a particular stage can have the counterintuitive effect causing abundance in one or more stages (called stage-specific overcompensation density) whole hydra effect). We analyzed an n-stage, single-species, ordinary differential equation model order explore mechanisms driving density effects populations. find that absence inter-stage competition, only occurs if intra-stage competition sufficiently strong cause the maturation reproductive rate of (i.e., input causes decreased output stage). When there also be driven by even any ecological rate. Hydra arise under same conditions are likely caused competition. interpret our results terms direct indirect between stages, which helps clarify relationships density, rates effects.