A general model of population growth in the hyrax procavia capensis

A study of an expanding hyrax population when the parameters of such a sub-population provided demographic parameters which were used to construct a model of population growth. The model simulates the observed growth of the population and its stabilization once an increasing death-rate factor, dependent on population size, was incorporated. The hyrax is dependent on shelter for protection from predation, and a biological evaluation of the model suggests that shelter is the limiting factor in population growth and control of predation effects. The study population is not limited by food, but comparisons with populations from semi-arid environments, where food shortage necessitates movements away from shelter thereby increasing predator susceptibility, suggest that the model has general application to population growth in this species. © 1986.