Leslie Matrix Predicting Lizard Populations

by Peter Simoes

Submitted : Spring 2013

For this project, I gathered information from a local lizard breeder regarding the population of the spotted whiptail (Cnemidophorus gularis). I enquired on the reproductive habits of the species and the probability of its survival within certain age ranges. With this information and the use of the Leslie model matrix, I was able to predict the whiptail lizard’s estimated population size within two years of unrestricted growth. These numbers are in part possible due to the lizards being parthenogenic (all female), thus not requiring a mate as they lay unfertilized eggs, which are clones of the mother.

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