This book provides a review of methods for obtaining and analysing data
from stage-structured biological populations. The topics covered are
sam- pling designs (Chapter 2), the estimation of parameters by maximum
likelihood (Chapter 3), the analysis of sample counts of the numbers cif
individuals in different stages at different times (Chapters 4 and 5),
the analysis of data using Leslie matrix types of model (Chapter 6) and
key factor analysis (Chapter 7). There is also some discussion of the
approaches to modelling and estimation that have been used in five
studies of particular populations (Chapter 8). There is a large
literature on the modelling of biological populations, and a multitude
of different approaches have been used in this area. The various
approaches can be classified in different ways (Southwood, 1978, ch.
12), but for the purposes of this book it is convenient to think of the
three categories mathematical, statistical and predictive modelling.
Mathematical modelling is concerned largely with developing models that
capture the most important qualitative features of population dynamics.
In this case, the models that are developed do not have to be compared
with data from natural populations. As representations of idealized
systems, they can be quite informative in showing the effects of
changing parameters, indicating what factors are most important in
promoting stability, and so on.