Exact confidence intervals for population growth rate, longevity and generation time

This study introduces the first mathematical expression for calculating confidence intervals for the aforementioned life history traits when individuals are unidentifiable and data are presented as a life table. The key finding is the accurate estimation of the confidence interval for r, the instantaneous growth rate, which is tested using Monte Carlo simulations with four arbitrary discrete distributions. In comparison to the bootstrap method, the proposed interval construction method proves more efficient, particularly for experiments with a total offspring size below 400. We discuss handling cases where data are organized in extended life tables or as a matrix of vital rates.PMID:38000513 | DOI:10.1016/j.tpb.2023.11.002

Source: Theoretical Population Biology - November 24, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Carlos Hernandez-Suarez Jorge Rabinovich Source Type: research