Interactive life‐history traits predict sensitivity of plants and animals to temporal autocorrelation |
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| Authors: | Maria Paniw Arpat Ozgul Roberto Salguero‐Gómez |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland;2. Department Biology, University of Cadiz, Puerto Real, Spain;3. Department of Zoology, Oxford University, New Radcliffe House, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Oxford, UK;4. Department of Animal & Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK;5. Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld., Australia;6. Evolutionary Demography Laboratory, Max Plank Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany |
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| Abstract: | Temporal autocorrelation in demographic processes is an important aspect of population dynamics, but a comprehensive examination of its effects on different life‐history strategies is lacking. We use matrix population models from 454 plant and animal populations to simulate stochastic population growth rates (log λs) under different temporal autocorrelations in demographic rates , using simulated and observed covariation among rates. We then test for differences in sensitivities, or changes of log λs to changes in autocorrelation among two major axes of life‐history strategies, obtained from phylogenetically informed principal component analysis: the fast‐slow and reproductive‐strategy continua. Fast life histories exhibit highest sensitivities to simulated autocorrelation in demographic rates across reproductive strategies. Slow life histories are less sensitive to temporal autocorrelation, but their sensitivities increase among highly iteroparous species. We provide cross‐taxonomic evidence that changes in the autocorrelation of environmental variation may affect a wide range of species, depending on complex interactions of life‐history strategies. |
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| Keywords: | Environmental variation fast– slow continuum life‐history strategy matrix population model multivariate analysis population projections reproductive strategy seed dormancy vital rates |
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