Effects of sample size on estimates of population growth rates calculated with matrix models.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Matrix models are widely used to study the dynamics and demography of populations. An important but overlooked issue is how the number of individuals sampled influences estimates of the population growth rate (lambda) calculated with matrix models. Even unbiased estimates of vital rates do not ensure unbiased estimates of lambda-Jensen's Inequality implies that even when the estimates of the vital rates are accurate, small sample sizes lead to biased estimates of lambda due to increased sampling variance. We investigated if sampling variability and the distribution of sampling effort among size classes lead to biases in estimates of lambda.

Methodology/principal findings

Using data from a long-term field study of plant demography, we simulated the effects of sampl

SUBMITTER: Fiske IJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2518208 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature