In Class Questions Flashcards
A simple random sample can be WITH or WITHOUT _____ (this will impact how to estimate the variance of the population)
replacement
In the description of the scientific method from the text which form of causation (SUFFICIENT or NECESSARY) specifies that the cause “C” under consideration alone insures the occurrence of the effect “E”?
Sufficient
According to the authors of the text what are two keys to a successful model?
(1) Clearly define model objectives
- predictive? mechanistic? compare scenarios?
- who will be using it?
(2) Include in the model only those features necessary to model objectives
**Remember, models are only meant to be abstractions
What are two procedures for estimating a distribution theta that are discussed in Chapter 4?
(1) Method of Moments
(2) Maximum Likelihood estimators
What are the 3 measures of how good an estimate is in the sense of being close to the parameter of interest?
(1) Bias
(2) Precision (sampling variance)
(3) Accuracy (combines bias and precision)
Would duck eggs per nest be considered an example of a discrete or a continuously distributed response variable?
Discrete (unless you are making omelets)
Why can’t the method of moments technique for estimating probability about populations of interest be used to assess reliability of estimates and perform tests of statistical significance?
Because this approach lacks information on the underlying distribution functions and thus all information comes from the sample
What advantages do Maximum Likelihood Estimators gain as sample sizes increase?
Asymptotically, the estimators become less biased, variance estimates become smaller, and the distribution approaches normal in shape
What are two processes for obtaining representative samples that the book emphasizes when estimating parameters?
Simple random and stratified
How is a stratified random sample different from a simple random sample?
(what is an advantage of stratified?)
Stratified random sample
- sampling done in 2 stages
stage 1: choose strata of subpopulations that is assumed to be homogeneous
stage 2: draw a simple random sample from each STRATUM
ADV: estimates have greater precision if strata are selected “intelligently”
Simple random sample
- one sample
Why would one want to modify the basic exponential model to allow for periodic population collapse?
Real systems have limits and thus populations crash when limits are exceeded
What are two assumptions of the basic exponential growth model from the text?
- Name ALL
(1) No immigration or emigration
(2) Non-overlapping generations
(3) Constant birth and death rates
(4) No genetic variation in birth or death rates
(5) No effect of age, size, or sex
(6) No density-dependent mechanisms altering the population growth response
What is the premise behind a double sampling scheme? Provide an example
- An auxiliary or surrogate variable, y, is measured on a sample of n’ units
- The primary variable of interest, x, is measured on a subset n of these n’ units, where n «_space;n’
- Values of x, are then predicted from the y, using ratio regression methods
How (in words not in equations) can habitat effects be incorporated into the exponential model? (what two factors that influence the exponential model might be changed by habitat)
Birth and death rates
The basic logistic model modifies the exponential model so that the per captia growth rate from “r” is equal to what value as population approaches K (carrying capacity)?
0
Will incorporating time lags into the basic logistic model cause population size to approach carrying capacity FASTER or SLOWER?
FASTER…population size will not compensate for approaching K as quickly this results in populations overshooting K and oscillating
Estimating expected lifetime remaining, individuals require which of the following: survival rates do not vary over time OR a stable age distribution?
Survival rates are constant
In life table analyses, survivorship functions can describe two temporal patterns…What are they and what distinguishes these functions?
(1) Birth Flow- continuous
(2) Birth Pulse- discrete
What two factors of influence does the Euler-Lotka equation make explicit when it is used to estimate lambda?
(1) Survivorship
(2) Reproduction
How can the equation _____________ be written in convenient mathematical notation to account for a multi-cohort model of both survivorship and reproduction?
By using Matrix Multiplication Notation
TRUE or FALSE: In an age-based model (Leslie matrix), the initial population size will change the rate of convergence to a stable age distribution but not whether such convergence occurs?
TRUE
Which form of matrix projection model (Leslie/age-based or Lefkovitch/stage-based) allows transition probabilities to go in both directions?
Lefkovitch/ stage-based
-Why? Leslie/age-based: can’t get younger
Lefkovitch approach (section 8.5) modifies Leslie approach by considering transition probabilities based upon ____ instead of age?
size class (or stages)
Below are three potential sampling schemes for a study area with three different habitat types. Which description BEST fits the middle scheme?
*Middle is split into 3 sections with same amount of dots in each section
(a) simple random (b) systematic (c) stratified with equal allocation (d) cluster (e) double
c) stratified with equal allocation
Which of the following assumptions are NOT shared by the simplest versions of both the logistic and exponential models of population growth?
(a) constant birth and death rates
(b) no time lags
(c) no immigration/ emigration
(d) no age structure to population
(c) no genetic structure to population
(a) constant birth and death rates
Which of the following models is not useful for estimating survival?
(a) mayfield
(b) binomial
(c) known fates
(d) a,b, and c
(e) Lincoln Peterson
(e) Lincoln Peterson
Lotka-Volterra competition assumes each population grows in a logistic fashion and the effect of competition is to do WHAT to the effective carrying capacities of both species?
lower them
The magnitude of the stable oscillations in Lotak-Volterra predator-prey system around the continuous non-trivial equilibrium point depend upon?
Initial population size
Lotak-Volterra predation equation can be modeled in discrete time OR in continuous time. Will this choice of how to model time steps influence the stability of the oscillations in the size of the predator-prey populations?
Yes
(1) continuous time: will provide stable oscillations while,
(2) discrete time: will create lags (as in logistic model) in response that lead to unstable oscillations
Morris and Dorak discuss TWO main goals of PVA. What are these goals and can you provide specific examples of each?
what is PVA?
PVA = Population Viability Analysis
(1) ASSESSMENTS - in which we ask how is the population doing
- what is the risk of extinction?
- comparing risk b/w two populations
- analyzing and synthesizing monitoring data
(2) MANAGEMENT - in which we ask how can we reduce risk to the population
- ID key life stages or demographic processes
- How large a reserve is needed
- Set harvest limits
- How many populations are needed
The premise of sustainable yield is that a proportion of a resource can be removed without causing long-term resource depletion. To accomplish this managers strive to maintain the per capita harvest rate equal to WHAT aspect of the population?
It’s per capita growth rate
Section 11.1.3 discusses 3 models for relating harvest rates to survivorship in a population (compensatory mortality hypothesis, additive mortality hypothesis, & partial compensation hypothesis). Which of these models is assumed to operate in the absences of density-dependent mechanisms?
additive mortality hypothesis