Predation yields greater population performance: What are the contributions of density- and trait-mediated effects?

Population responses to extrinsic mortality can yield no change in number of survivors (compensation) or an increase in number of survivors (overcompensation) when the population is regulated by negative density-dependence. This intriguing response has been the subject of theoretical studies, but few experiments have explored how the source of extrinsic mortality affects the response. This study tests abilities of three functionally diverse predators, alone and combined, to induce (over)compensation of a prey population.

Finding the sweet spot: What levels of larval mortality lead to compensation or overcompensation in adult production?

Extrinsic mortality impinging on negatively density-dependent populations can result in no change in the number of survivors (compensation) or an increase (overcompensation) by releasing the population from density-dependent effects on survivorship. The relationship between the level of extrinsic mortality (., percentage of mortality) and the level and likelihood of overcompensation is theoretically important, but rarely investigated.