Assignment:
An excellent example for stage structured matrix is logger head turtle. Loggerhead turtles are distributed across the world can be found in Indian, Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Major part of the life of adult loggerhead is spent in saltwater, except for the females, who have to come ashore for a brief period to lay eggs. The data given below is the life table of logger head turtle. Solve the questions given below.
Stages |
Approximate age |
Annual survivorship |
Fecundity |
Egg,hatchlings |
<1 |
0.6747 |
0 |
Small juveniles |
1-7 |
0.7857 |
0 |
Large juveniles |
8-15 |
0.6758 |
0 |
Sub adults |
16-21 |
0.7425 |
0 |
Novice breeders |
22 |
0.8091 |
127 |
1st year remigrants |
23 |
0.8091 |
4 |
Mature breeders |
24-54 |
0.8091 |
8 |
- Construct stage structured matrix.
- Calculate the following parameters and variations generation time, rate of growth, basic reproductive rate, rate of growth per generation.
- Calculate stable stage distribution after 20 years, plot the stable stage distribution for each year.
Hint: Use stage-structures Leslie Matrix simulator.