Floater mortality within settlement areas can explain the Allee effect in breeding populations |
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Authors: | Vincenzo Penteriani Fermín Otalora Miguel Ferrer |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Pabellón del Perú, Avda. de María Luisa s/n, Apdo. 1056, E-41013 Seville, Spain;2. Laboratorio de Estudios Cristalográficos, IACT (CSIC/University of Granada), Campus Fuentenueva, Facultad de Ciencias, 18002 Granada, Spain;3. Department of Biodiversity Conservation, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Avda. María Luisa s/n, Pabellón del Perú, 41013 Seville, Spain |
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Abstract: | The Allee effect (the positive relationship between population growth rate and population size) is a constraint of some animal populations at low numbers, which increases their likelihood of extinction because of a decrease in reproduction and/or survival. We were able to demonstrate that the Allee effect can be the result of a mortality increase affecting floaters (i.e. dispersing individuals able to enter as breeders in the reproductive population when a breeding territory or a potential mate – owner of a suitable breeding territory – becomes available). Previously, potential mechanisms underlying Allee effects were always related to the breeding portion of a population only. In contrast, our understanding of or solutions to population declines due to the Allee effects can reside elsewhere, away from breeding territories. |
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Keywords: | Allee effect Aquila adalberti Density-dependent fecundity Extinction Floater Settlement areas Spanish imperial eagle |
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