Which of the following statements about life tables is true?

• A. Life tables usually only consider males in the population because they typically survive the longest.
• B. Life tables provide detailed information on a population’s birth & death rates but not survivorship data.
• C. Life tables can be used to estimate future population size by examining age-specific mortality/fecundity rates.
• D. Life tables never include data on males in the population.
• E. Life tables are exclusively used for studying human populations and are not applicable to other species.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the purpose of life tables: Life tables are tools used in ecology to summarize the survival and reproductive rates of individuals at different ages within a population.
2. Identify the components of life tables: They typically include age-specific mortality rates, fecundity rates, and survivorship data, which help in understanding population dynamics.
3. Clarify the scope of life tables: Life tables are not limited to human populations; they can be applied to any species to study their population dynamics.
4. Recognize the inclusion of both sexes: Life tables generally include data on both males and females, as both contribute to the population's reproductive potential and survival rates.
5. Evaluate the statement about estimating future population size: Life tables can indeed be used to estimate future population size by analyzing age-specific mortality and fecundity rates, which provide insights into population growth or decline.