Foraging ecology and population dynamics of collared pikas in southwestern Yukon

摘要

THE FORAGING DECISIONS MADE BY HERBIVORES influence population dynamics through their effects on energy gain, energy expenditure, and ultimately, survival (McNamara and Houston, 1997). In turn, foraging by herbivores may influence the amount of vegetation available for the future. Therefore, herbivores and vegetation often are coupled in a strong reciprocal relationship: the abundance of one affects the abundance of the other through time (e.g., Caughley, 1976).