Skip to Main Content
-
Reconstructing the historic demography of an endangered seabird
Author(s): Steven R. Beissinger; Zachariah M. Peery
Date: 2007
Source: Ecology. 88(2): 296-305
Publication Series: Scientific Journal (JRNL)
PDF: View PDF (2.1 MB)Description
Reducing extinction risk for threatened species requires determining which demographic parameters are depressed and causing population declines. Museum collections may constitute a unique, underutilized resource for measuring demographic changes over long time periods using age-ratio analysis. We reconstruct the historic demography of a U.S. federally endangered seabird, the marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus), from specimens collected ~ 100 years ago for comparison with predictions from comparative analyses and with results from contemporary field studies using both age-ratio analysis and conventional demographic estimators. Reproduction in the late 1800s and early 1900s matched predictions from comparative analysis, but was 8-9 times greater than contemporary estimates, whereas adult survival was unchanged. Historic reproductive rates would support stable populations, but contemporary levels should result in population declines. Contemporary demographic estimates derived from age-ratio analysis were similar to estimates from conventional estimators. Using museum specimens to reconstruct historic demography provides a unique approach to identify causes of decline and to set demographic benchmarks for recovery of endangered species that meet most assumptions of age-ratio analysis.Publication Notes
- You may send email to pnw_pnwpubs@fs.fed.us to request a hard copy of this publication.
- (Please specify exactly which publication you are requesting and your mailing address.)
- We recommend that you also print this page and attach it to the printout of the article, to retain the full citation information.
- This article was written and prepared by U.S. Government employees on official time, and is therefore in the public domain.
Citation
Beissinger, Steven R.; Peery, Zachariah M. 2007. Reconstructing the historic demography of an endangered seabird. Ecology. 88(2): 296-305.Keywords
Brachyramphus marmoratus, age-ratio analyses demography, endangered species, historical demography, limiting factor, marbled murrelet, matrix population model, museum specimens.Related Search
- Evidence of changes in populations of the Marbled Murrelet in the Pacific Northwest
- Ecology and conservation of the Marbled Murrelet
- Regional population monitoring of the marbled murrelet: field and analytical methods.
XML: View XML
Show More
Show Fewer
https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/34839