Abstract
Effective conservation of biodiversity depends on the successful
management of wildlife populations and their habitats. Successful
management, in turn, depends on our ability to understand and accurately
forecast how populations and communities respond to human-induced
changes in their environments. However, quantifying how these stressors
impact population dynamics remains challenging. Another significant
hurdle at this interface is determining which quantitative approach(es)
are most appropriate given data types, constraints, and the intended
purpose. Here, we provide a cross-taxa overview of key methodological
approaches (e.g. , matrix population models) and model elements
(e.g. , energetics) that are currently used to model the effects
of anthropogenic disturbance on wildlife populations. Specifically, we
discuss how these modelling approaches differ in their key assumptions,
aspects of their structure and complexity, the questions they are best
poised to address, and their data requirements. Our intention is to help
overcome some of the methodological biases that might persist across
taxonomic specialisations, identify new opportunities to address
existing modelling challenges, and improve our understanding of the
direct and indirect impacts of anthropogenic disturbance. We guide users
through the identification of appropriate model configurations for
different management purposes, while also suggesting key priorities for
model development and integration.