RATE OF INCREASE AND FERTILITY-CONTROL

1. The relationships between the rate of increase of populations of vertebrate pests and net reproductive rate, and fecundity and survivorship, are examined. 2. The relationships are non-linear so the response of a population to pest control, e.g. by fertility control, will be non-linear. The response will increase as fertility declines, if the generation interval or survivorship is constant. 3. If survivorship increases as fecundity declines, the effects of fertility control on rate of increase will be reduced. 4. Practical and strategic implications are that fertility control of pests may be most effective in a pest population previously reduced in abundance.