Predicting Natural Mortality Rates and Reproduction–Mortality Trade-offs from Fish Life History Data

Abstract

A method for estimating natural mortality and evolutionary constraint on fish life histories is presented based on the assumption that observed life histories are evolutionarily stable. Inverse optimization techniques are used to determine the values of natural mortality, reproduction–mortality trade-offs, and energy conversion efficiencies that would make observed life histories evolutionarily stable. The life history method yields natural mortality estimates comparable with those based on population age–frequency data. Sensitivity analysis is used to determine the robustness of the predictions to errors in parameter estimation and density-dependent factors.