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A method for the estimation of parameters for natural stage-structured populations

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Researches on Population Ecology

Abstract

A relatively simple method is proposed for the estimation of parameters of stage-structured populations from sample data for situation where (a) unit time survival rates may vary with time, and (b) the distribution of entry times to stage 1 is too complicated to be fitted with a simple parametric model such as a normal or gamma distribution. The key aspects of this model are that the entry time distribution is approximated by an exponential function withp parameters, the unit time survival rates in stages are approximated by anr parameter exponential polynomial in the stage number, and the durations of stages are assumed to be the same for all individuals. The new method is applied to four Zooplankton data sets, with parametric bootstrapping used to assess the bias and variation in estimates. It is concluded that good estimates of demographic parameters from stagefrequency data from natural populations will usually only be possible if extra information such as the durations of stages is known.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Bryan F. J. Manly

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  1. Bryan F. J. Manly
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Correspondence to Bryan F. J. Manly.

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Manly, B.F.J. A method for the estimation of parameters for natural stage-structured populations. Res Popul Ecol 39, 101–111 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02765255

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02765255

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