| dc.description.abstract | Matrix population models are often applied to a variety of organisms possessing different life history traits, and fertility rates need to be estimated differently for them. Although there is a general method described for estimating fertility rates, there is a substantial variability in the ways fertility rates are estimated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clarity and accuracy in estimating fertility parameters for their use in matrix population models with the intention of developing a transparent guide that would assist in overcoming the most frequent errors. The study involves a meta-analysis of published articles that constructed a matrix population model for organisms within the Kingdom Animalia. Literature is organized into different animal group categories including, invertebrates, fish, birds, reptiles, and large mammals. Within each category each individual study is categorized based on whether it included sufficient information about estimating fertility rates and if the methods used for parameters were correct. In addition, results are compared with the corresponding life history traits of the organisms. Results indicate mistakes in estimating fertility occurred more frequently due to the omission of survival rate into the fertility coefficient and mistakes were also seen higher among opportunistic strategists and birth-pulse structured models. Of the studies sampled, mistakes in estimating fertility did not decrease over the ten year study period.
These results suggests that perhaps mistakes continue to be present as a result of the entanglement between fecundity and fertility that has remained throughout literature. A descriptive set of methods are developed to address the common mistakes found in the literature review. However, further development of tools to assist ecologists in applying matrix population models are needed. | en |
