Premium
An examination of Logarithmic Regression as a Measure of Population Density Reponse
Author(s) -
Salt George William
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1935650
Subject(s) - logarithm , statistics , measure (data warehouse) , regression analysis , linear regression , regression , range (aeronautics) , mathematics , population density , population , demography , mathematical analysis , computer science , sociology , materials science , database , composite material
Logarithmic regression has been proposed as a measure of density response. The method was tested with data from experimental populations of the protozoan Woodruffia metabolica for which the density response was known. Only the effect of density on reproduction was tested, as there was no mortality. The method does work but is not very sensitive. The total range of values within which negative density response ( d ensity dependence ) can fall is from 1.00 to 0.73. Further, the method requires fitting a straight line to data which in reality are slightly curvilinear. The ratio of the initial slope to the last slope provides a measure which is about six times as sensitive as logarithmic regression but is more susceptible to error from random variations.