Observation error and the detection of delayed density dependence

Authors
Solow, AR
Citation
Ar. Solow, Observation error and the detection of delayed density dependence, ECOLOGY, 82(11), 2001, pp. 3263-3264
Citations number
4
Categorie Soggetti
Environment/Ecology
Journal title
ECOLOGY
ISSN journal
00129658 → ACNP
Volume
82
Issue
11
Year of publication
2001
Pages
3263 - 3264
Database
ISI
SICI code
0012-9658(200111)82:11<3263:OEATDO>2.0.ZU;2-E
Abstract
In an influential 1990 paper, Turchin concluded that delayed density depend ence is common among insect populations. The statistical methods on which t his conclusion was based assume that populations are observed without error . This note explores the effect of observation error on these methods. The results suggest that observation error can lead to a high rate of spurious detection of delayed density dependence.