Summary
In response to Gaston and Lawton (1987), we evaluated the ability of four statistical procedures to detect density dependence. We used data from the same 16 populations as Gaston and Lawton (1987). In each population, density dependence had been previously established with techniques that use more extensive data. The major axis test (Slade 1977) was rarely (3 populations of 16) capable of detecting density dependence. The autocorrelation test (Bulmer 1975) detected density dependence in 5 of 16 species (14 of 59 tests overall). The randomization procedure (Pollard et al. 1987) detected density dependence in 7 of the 16 data sets (10 of 59 tests overall). The simulation procedure (Vickery and Nudds 1984) detected density dependence in 5 of the 16 data sets (11 of 59 tests overall). We suggest that not all annual census data taken from populations subject to density-dependent effects will actually show evidence of such effects. We conclude that Pollard et al. 's (1987) randomization procedure is the best test for detecting density dependence in sequential census data but it is not as powerful as more elaborate techniques (k-factor analysis, experimentation, etc.), nor is it meant to replace more extensive analyses.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bulmer MG (1975) The statistical analysis of density dependence. Biometrics 31:901–911
Clobert J, Perrins CM, McCleery RH, Gosler AG (1988) Survival rate in the great tit Parus major in relation to sex, age and immigration status. J Anim Ecol 57:287–306
Dempster JP (1975) Animal Population Ecology. Academic Press, London
den Boer PJ (1988) Density dependence and the stabilitzation of animal numbers 3. The winter moth reconsidered. Oecologia 75:161–168
Dixon WJ, Massey FJ Jr (1969) Introduction to Statistical Analysis. Third Edition. McGraw-Hill, New York
Eberhardt LL (1970) Correlation, regression and density dependence. Ecology 51:306–310
Gaston KJ, Lawton JH (1987) A test of statistical techniques for detecting density dependence in sequential censuses of animal populations. Oecologia 74:404–410
Hassell MP (1986) Detecting density dependence TREE 1:90–93
Hassell MP, Southwood TRE, Reader PM (1987) The dynamics of the viburnum whitefly (Aleurotrachelus jelinekii): a case study of population regulation. J Anim Ecol 56:347–372
Jolicoeur P, Mosimann JE (1968) Intervalles de confiance pour la pente de l'axe majeur d'une distribution normale bidimensionelle. Biometrie-Praximetrie 9:121–140
Kluyver HN (1971) Regulation of numbers in populations of great tits (Parus major). Proc Adv Study Inst Dynamics Numbers Popul (Oosterbeek, 1970) pp 507–523
Latto J, Hassell MP (1987) Do pupal predators regulate the winter moth? Oecologia 74:153–155
MacLellan CR (1977) Trends of codling moth (Lepidoptera: Olethreutidae) populations over 12 years on two cultivars in an insecticide free orchard. Can Entomol 109:1555–1562
MacLellan CR (1978) Trends of eye-spotted bud moth (Lepidoptera: Olethreutidae) populations over 12 years on two cultivars in an insecticide free orchard. Can Entomol 110:91–100
Maelzer DA (1970) The regression of log N n+1 on log N n as a test of density dependence: an exercise with computer-constructed density-independent populations. Ecology 51:810–820
May RM (1989) Detecting density dependence in imaginary worlds. Nature 338:16–17
McCleery RH, Perrins CM (1985) Territory size, reproductive success and population dynamics in the great tit, Parus major. In: Sibly RM and Smith RH (eds) Behavioural Ecology. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 353–373
Minot EO (1981) Effects of interspecific competition for food in breeding blue tits and great tits. J Anim Ecol 50:375–385
Morris RF (1959) Single factor analysis in population dynamics. Ecology 40:580–588
Mountford MD (1988) Population regulation, density dependence, and heterogeneity. J Anim Ecol 57:845–858
Pollard E, Lakhani KH, and Rothery P (1987) The detection of density dependence from a series of annual censuses. Ecology 68:2046–2055
Reddingius J (1971) Gambling for existence: a discussion of some theoretical problems in animal population ecology. Acta Biother 20 [Suppl] 1–208
Reddingius J, den Boer PJ (1989) On the stabilization of animal numbers. Problems of testing 1. Power estimates and estimation errors. Oecologia 78:1–8
Royama T (1977) Population persistence and density dependence. Ecol Monogr 47:1–35
Royama T (1984) Population dynamics of the spruce budworm Choristoneura fumiferana. Ecol Monogr 54:429–462
Slade NA (1977) Statistical detection of density dependence from a series of sequential censuses. Ecology 58:1094–1102
Southern HN (1970) The natural control of a population of tawny owls (Strix aluco). J Zool 162:197–285
St. Amant JLS (1970) The detection of regulation in animal populations. Ecology 51:823–828
Varley GC, Gradwell GR (1960) Key factors in population studies. J Anim Ecol 29:399–401
Varley GC, Gradwell GR, Hassell MP (1974) Insect Population Ecology. University of California Press, Berkeley
Vickery WL (1991) An evaluation of bias in k-factor analysis. Oecologia 85:413–418
Vickery WL, Nudds TD (1984) Detection of density-dependent effects in annual duck censuses. Ecology 65:96–104
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vickery, W.L., Nudds, T.D. Testing for density-dependent effects in sequential censuses. Oecologia 85, 419–423 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00320619
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00320619