Single-species Models of the Allee Effect: Extinction Boundaries, Sex Ratios and Mate Encounters

Authors: BOUKAL D.S.^{1, 2}; BEREC L.^{1, 2}

Source: Journal of Theoretical Biology, Volume 218, Number 3, October 2002 , pp. 375-394(20)

Publisher: Academic Press

Abstract:

We critically review and classify models of single-species population dynamics subject to the demographic Allee effect with emphasis on non-spatial, deterministic approach. Inclusion of spatial movement and stochastic phenomena does not substantially change the behaviour; stochasticity only “blurs” step-like character of the Allee effect into a sigmoidal form. The outcome of all non-spatial, deterministic models is either unconditional extinction, extinction-survival scenario (ES), or unconditional survival. Three major model classes are recognized: (1) one-dimensional heuristic models, (2) one-dimensional models with mating probability and fixed sex ratio, and (3) two-sex models with variable adult sex ratio. Each class is characterized by the shape of extinction boundary which separates extinction from survival in the ES scenario. The latter two classes may give better predictions of extinction thresholds than heuristic models but require specific information and are data intensive. In one-dimensional models with fixed sex ratio, population cannot survive if density/number of males decreases below some threshold while there is no such restriction on females. Individual-based models seem to be most capable of explaining mechanisms leading to the Allee effect. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jtbi.2002.3084

Affiliations: 1: Department of Theoretical Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Braniovská 31, eské Budjovice, 370 05, Czech Republic ovská 31, eské Budjovice, 370 05, Czech Republic "> 2: Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Braniovská 31, eské Budjovice, 370 05, Czech Republicovská 31, eské Budjovice, 370 05, Czech Republic">

Publication date: 2002-10-01

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