Statistical tests of demographic heterogeneity theories.
In this paper we develop predictions from models of life-long demographic heterogeneity. These predictions are then compared to observations of mortality in large laboratory populations of Drosophila melanogaster. We find that the demographic heterogeneity models either require levels of variation that far exceed what would be considered biologically plausible, or they predict a much larger number of very old individuals than we actually observe. We conclude that the demographic heterogeneity models are not reasonable explanations of demographic patterns and are weakly motivated biological models.
Mueller
Laurence D
LD
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2525, USA. ldmuelle@uci.edu
Drapeau
Mark D
MD
Adams
Curtis S
CS
Hammerle
Christopher W
CW
Doyal
Kristy M
KM
Jazayeri
Ali J
AJ
Ly
Tuan
T
Beguwala
Suhail A
SA
Mamidi
Avi R
AR
Rose
Michael R
MR
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003710:Demography; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology*; D008136:Longevity; D008954:Models, Biological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015996:Survival Rate