Goodwin, B.J. & L. Fahrig. 1998. Spatial scaling and animal population dynamics. In D.L. Peterson & V.T. Parker (eds.), Ecological scale: Theory and applications. New York: Columbia University Press, pp. 193-206.

Studies of changes in animal population size over time (population dynamics) are conducted primarily for three major reasons: (i) making predictions of population persistence (Lande 1988), (ii) investigation of the mechanisms causing population fluctuations (Royama 1992) and (iii) calculation of sustained yield harvests (Bailey 1984). The spatial scale of the investigation has important consequences in all cases. This chapter reviews our current understanding of how the spatial scale of a study of population dynamics affects the conclusions one is able to draw from it.