Multiple Regulation States in Populations of Small Mammals: A State-Transition Model

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Abstract
Population densities can be regulated by predation, emigration, resource depletion, and behavioral or physiological collapse. Each of these mechanisms dominates the regulation process over a definite range of densities and can produce a quantitatively and qualitatively unique equilibrium state. When specific transition conditions are met, the population moves from one state to another. The number of possible equilibrium states ranges from one to three and depends on the magnitudes of the component regulating mechanisms.