ABSTRACT Ecology has long been troubled by the controversy over how populations are regulated1,2. Some ecologists focus on the role of environmental effects, whereas others argue that

density-dependent feedback mechanisms are central3,4,5,6. The relative importance of both processes is still hotly debated, but clear examples of both processes acting in the same population

are rare7,8. Key-factor analysis (regression of population changes on possible causal factors) and time-series analysis are often used to investigate the presence of density dependence, but

such approaches may be biased and provide no information on actual demographic rates9,10. Here we report on both density-dependent and density-independent effects in a murid rodent pest

by stabilizing nonlinear density-dependent components coupled with strong deterministic and stochastic seasonal components. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a

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FLUCTUATIONS AND SYNANTHROPY EXPLAIN TRANSMISSION RISK IN RODENT-BORNE ZOONOSES Article Open access 07 December 2022 ELK POPULATION DYNAMICS WHEN CARRYING CAPACITIES VARY WITHIN AND AMONG

HERDS Article Open access 29 September 2020 THE ABUNDANCE AND PERSISTENCE OF _CAPRINAE_ POPULATIONS Article Open access 15 August 2022 REFERENCES * Andrewartha, H. G. & Birch, L. C. _The

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Sampling error as a misleading artifact in “key factor analysis”. _Res. Popul. Ecol._ 13, 28–45 (1971). Article  Google Scholar  Download references ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We thank E. Johanessen

and D. Hjermann for help in the initial stages of the analyses; B. Grenfell, R. Boonstra, E. Bølviken and N. Yoccoz for discussions and comments; H. Yordanos (Addis Ababa) for providing

working facilities for H.L. and N.C.S. during a retreat in Ethiopia; R.Machang'u, C. A. Sabuni and co-workers; and the Sokoine University of Agriculture. This work was supported by the

European Union, the Belgian Agency for Development Co-operation, the National Fund for Scientific Research (Belgium) (H.L. is a postdoctoral research fellow); and the Norwegian Research

Council (N.C.S.). AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Danish Pest Infestation Laboratory, Skovbrynet 14, DK-2800, Lyngby, Denmark Herwig Leirs * Division of Zoology, Department of

Biology, University of Oslo, PO Box 1050, Blindern, N-0316, Oslo, Norway Nils Chr. Stenseth * National Biological Service, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, 20708-4017, Maryland,

USA James D. Nichols & James E. Hines * Department of Biology, University of Antwerp (RUCA), Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020, Antwerp, Belgium Ron Verhagen & Walter Verheyen Authors *

Herwig Leirs View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Nils Chr. Stenseth View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed 

Google Scholar * James D. Nichols View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * James E. Hines View author publications You can also search for this

author inPubMed Google Scholar * Ron Verhagen View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Walter Verheyen View author publications You can also

search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Nils Chr. Stenseth. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE

Leirs, H., Stenseth, N., Nichols, J. _et al._ Stochastic seasonality and nonlinear density-dependent factors regulate population size in an African rodent. _Nature_ 389, 176–180 (1997).

https://doi.org/10.1038/38271 Download citation * Received: 27 August 1996 * Accepted: 27 June 1997 * Issue Date: 11 September 1997 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/38271 SHARE THIS ARTICLE

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