Population growth was negative only in 1988, a year of severe drought. Death rate was 

 lowest 1988-89 and 1989-90. Recruitment was highest in 1988-89 and 1990-91. Death rate 

 was highest and recruitment was lowest in 1987-88 (Table 1). These results suggest that the 

 same environmental conditions are often favorable for both survival and recruitment. 



Significant flower and fruit production occurred only in 1986, 1989 and 1991 (Table 

 1). These are the same years that show the greatest population growth (Table 1). Of these 

 three years, the frequency of aborted and predated inflorescences was highest and the 

 frequency of fecund inflorescences was lowest in 1989 (Table 2). Both the mean number of 

 fruits per fecund inflorescence and the mean number of seeds per unpredated fruit were 

 relatively constant for the three years (Table 2). The frequency of predated inflorescences 

 was low compared to that in most Idaho populations (Lesica and Elliott 1989). 



In 1986 and 1989 weevil seed predators reduced the seed crop by an estimated 24% 

 and 33% respectively (Table 2). Although this loss seems appreciable, it did not prevent the 

 population from increasing during subsequent years. I did not detect any seed predators in 

 1991. 



Precipitation data for the years of the study are presented in Table 3. There is a 

 tendency for years of high fecundity and population growth to be preceded by a late winter 

 and early spring that are relatively moist (Lesica and Elliott 1989). This correlation is not 



