HOW TO MODEL MOOSE POPULATION ECOLOGY?

Abstract

Modeling population dynamics of a species like moose, living under intense selection due to heavy exploitation, must consider both short term and long term dynamical processes. Population dynamics are constrained by the distribution of the environment, effecting both short and long term dynamics, and the genetic distribution, mainly effecting long term dynamics. Both, the short and long term dynamical responses are determined by the individuals’ survival probability and rate of reproduction. This observation is fundamental. If field studies effectively are to enhance our ability to predict moose population dynamics, various factors supposed to effect the moose ecology must be evaluated in terms of survival and reproduction. These general problems are briefly discussed period to highlight these problems a simple example is given that considers variation in population growth rate when reproduction is determined by both environmental as well as genetical factors.