I’m struggling to think of non-human-animal-relevant examples of this, but it seems in principle possible to have welfare effects which depend on total population rather than density. Ideas and technological innovation are (roughly) an example of this in humans. That is, more total humans means more freely shareable ideas/innovations means more welfare. (See e.g. Population growth and technological change: One million BC to 1990.)
Thought I’d just throw it out there in case someone can think of a way to make this relevant to animals.
Good points. If I understand you correctly, these sorts of benefits from population size (independent of the amount of resources/habitat area available) would be essentially the converse of density-independent mortality factors. I’ve tried to use the term “density” quite broadly here so that effects like these could be accounted for in a single density-dependent welfare curve.
I’m struggling to think of non-human-animal-relevant examples of this, but it seems in principle possible to have welfare effects which depend on total population rather than density. Ideas and technological innovation are (roughly) an example of this in humans. That is, more total humans means more freely shareable ideas/innovations means more welfare. (See e.g. Population growth and technological change: One million BC to 1990.)
Thought I’d just throw it out there in case someone can think of a way to make this relevant to animals.
Good points. If I understand you correctly, these sorts of benefits from population size (independent of the amount of resources/habitat area available) would be essentially the converse of density-independent mortality factors. I’ve tried to use the term “density” quite broadly here so that effects like these could be accounted for in a single density-dependent welfare curve.
Maybe more standing variation and population resilience which could have indirect effects on welfare over the long-term?