SMILE

Stochastic Models for the Inference of Life Evolution

Bibtex

@article{chapron_overestimates_2013,
Author = {Chapron, G and Wielgus, R and Lambert, A},
Title = {Overestimates of maternity and population growth rates
in multi-annual breeders},
Journal = {Eur. J. Wildlife Res.},
Volume = {59},
Number = {2},
Pages = {237--243},
abstract = {There has been limited attention to estimating
maternity rate because it appears to be relatively
simple. However, when used for multi-annual breeder
species, such as the largest carnivores, the most
common estimators introduce an upward bias by excluding
unproductive females. Using a simulated dataset based
on published data, we compare the accuracy of maternity
estimates derived from standard methods against
estimates derived from an alternative method. We show
that standard methods overestimate maternity rates in
the presence of unsuccessful pregnancies. Importantly,
population growth rates derived from a matrix model
parameterized with the biased estimates may indicate
increasing populations although the populations are
stable or even declining. We recommend the abandonment
of the biased standard methods and to instead use the
unbiased alternative method for population projections
and assessments of population viability.},
doi = {10.1007/s10344-012-0671-x},
year = 2013
}