In natural populations, vital rates such as survival and reproduction are influenced by a complex interplay of abiotic conditions (e.g., environment), density dependence, and individual factors (e.g., phenotypic traits). Studies at the extremes of species distributions, particularly high elevations, offer unique insights due to the intensified effects of abiotic stressors, which can amplify both direct and indirect effects on vital rates.
Lenzi O., Grossenbacher K., Zumbach S., Lüscher B., Althaus S., Thoma M., Schmocker D., Recher H., Ozgul A., Schmidt B.R. 2024: Interplay of abiotic conditions, density, and body size in shaping demography in a high-elevation toad population. EcosphereVolume 15, Issue 11.