Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2440/74510
Citations
Scopus Web of Science® Altmetric
?
?
Type: Journal article
Title: Density dependence: An ecological Tower of Babel
Author: Herrando-Perez, S.
Delean, J.
Brook, B.
Bradshaw, C.
Citation: Oecologia, 2012; 170(3):585-603
Publisher: Springer
Issue Date: 2012
ISSN: 0029-8549
1432-1939
Statement of
Responsibility: 
Salvador Herrando-Pérez, Steven Delean, Barry W. Brook, Corey J. A. Bradshaw
Abstract: The concept of density dependence represents the effect of changing population size on demographic rates and captures the demographic role of social and trophic mechanisms (e.g. competition, cooperation, parasitism or predation). Ecologists have coined more than 60 terms to denote different statistical and semantic properties of this concept, resulting in a formidable lexicon of synonymies and polysemies. We have examined the vocabulary of density dependence used in the modern ecological literature from the foundational lexicon developed by Smith, Allee, Haldane, Neave and Varley. A few simple rules suffice to abate terminological inconsistency and to enhance the biological meaning of this important concept. Correct citation of original references by ecologists and research journals could ameliorate terminological standards in our discipline and avoid linguistic confusion of mathematically and theoretically complex patterns.
Keywords: Allee effect
Demographic rate
Density feedback
Population dynamics
Regulation
Terminology
Rights: © Springer-Verlag 2012
DOI: 10.1007/s00442-012-2347-3
Grant ID: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP0878582
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP0878582
Published version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00442-012-2347-3
Appears in Collections:Aurora harvest 4
Earth and Environmental Sciences publications
Environment Institute Leaders publications
Environment Institute publications

Files in This Item:
There are no files associated with this item.


Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.