Population dynamics of the yellow clam Mesodesma mactroides: Recruitment variability, density-dependence and stochastic processes

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Abstract

Recruitment of benthic marine invertebrates varies greatly at different spatio-temporal scales. For instance, population dynamics of the yellow clam Mesodesma mactroides at Uruguay exhibit large temporal fluctuations, mainly associated with recruitment. We used data from an 8 yr long-term study to develop an age-structured model to show that density-dependent and density-independent forces acting together can jointly explain the population fluctuations in a sandy-beach bivalve population of the yellow clam Mesodesma mactroides. The pure density-dependent deterministic model parameterised with empirical values estimated during the 8 yr study predicted stable dynamics. The dynamics of the deterministic skeleton was markedly influenced by the addition of a relatively small amount of stochastic variability to fertility rates. The yellow clam population dynamics seem to be driven by the combined forces of density-dependent and density-independent factors operating together. A combination of (uncorrelated) stochasticity in reproductive rates and asymmetric intercohort interactions (density-dependent recruitment and density-dependent survival rates) seems to be the key process generating large variability in recruitment.

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Lima, M., Brazeiro, A., & Defeo, O. (2000). Population dynamics of the yellow clam Mesodesma mactroides: Recruitment variability, density-dependence and stochastic processes. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 207, 97–108. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps207097

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