Two-sex matrix models in assessing population viability: when do male dynamics matter?

摘要: Summary 1. While most demographic population models used in conservation rely on female vital rates, recent empirical evidence suggests that male dynamics should be included for assessing extinction risk. 2. Using California sea lions Zalophus californianus as an applied example, we demonstrate there are situations which two-sex more appropriate than the commonly female-based model. 3. Two-sex relevant cases where rates sexes differ and polygamous species such lions. Vital targeted management may therefore respond differently males females different assumptions about sex ratio. 4. Synthesis applications. Conservation biologists carefully consider social structure ratio of focal order to determine whether a matrix model will yield accurate estimates risk standard one-sex models.