Why time‐limited individuals can make populations more vulnerable to disturbance

Individual variation in disturbance vulnerability (i.e. the likelihood that negatively affects an individual's fitness) can affect how impacts animal populations, as even at low levels some individuals could be severely affected and die. arise due to different responses disturbance. We propose a new hypothesis when respond similarly disturbance, time-limited are more risk their condition deteriorates since they have limited ability extend foraging time compensate for investigate this ‘time-limitation hypothesis' both empirically mathematically by studying differ average (presumably differences efficiency) used tracking data of 22 wintering Eurasian oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus compare budgets between disturbed undisturbed tidal periods. In three periods with severe transport airplanes, than third additional flight loss was explained individual differences. Inefficient foraged longer experienced higher costs periods, lost time. next analytical energy balance model study differed maximum thresholds. Both our theoretical empirical suggest inefficient environment may unable increase effects Consequently, magnitude strongly determines what proportion population is Our implies that, assessing on population, it not only important consider responses, but also determine consequences