Article
Use of the normal generated distribution for estimating population survival
Journal of Theoretical Biology
(1976)
Abstract
Counting the individuals in a population before and after an annual period of environmental stress allows the proportion s of the initial population surviving the period to be computed. A series of such observations over n annual periods gives a sequence s1, s2, …, sn. A statistical model is formulated from axioms describing the survival process, and it is concluded that these observed values may usefully be regarded as realizations of a random variable that arises from the normal generated distribution (n.g.d.). Equations for estimating the n.g.d. parameters ζ and τ2 from observed survival proportions by the method of moments and maximum likelihood are given. The distributions of parameter estimates ζ and τ2 are obtained and discussed in the context of testing hypotheses comparing survival among different populations. Finally, the dependence of the n.g.d. upon parameters ζ and τ2 is examined in terms of altering survival, either by population self-regulation mechanisms or man-induced controls.
Disciplines
Publication Date
1976
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-5193(76)90029-1
Citation Information
Charles Romesburg. "Use of the normal generated distribution for estimating population survival" Journal of Theoretical Biology Vol. 61 Iss. 2 (1976) p. 447 - 457 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/charles_romesburg/61/