Matrix Methods for Avian Demography

Abstract

Demography is a tool for understanding population-level dynamics in terms of events (birth, death, maturation, etc.) at the level of the individual. Demographic models are a critical component of theory in population genetics, life history evolution, mating systems, and population biology. Demography is of fundamental concern to conservation biology; the demographic rather than genetic consequences of rarity may be the imminent threat to species facing rapid habitat destruction in many parts of the world (Lande, 1988b).