Mathematical models as an aid to studies of gamebird populations.

Abstract

Attention is drawn to the fundamental and practical differences between factors which regulate the density of game populations about a long term mean and factors which disturb the density from a long term mean.

Results are summarized which show that density dependent predation, on the nest and on the sitting female, is the main natural density dependent regulating factor in grey partridge populations.

The technique of simulating population dynamics with the use of simple deterministic models has been very useful in the study on the grey partridge where data were abundant. It is maintained that the same techniques can be useful in species of woodland grouse or other endangered Galliformes where data are scarce.