Commonly used two‐sex discrete‐time population projection models rely on mating functions developed for continuous‐time frameworks that overestimate the number of unions between reproductive individuals. This has important consequences for our understanding of the evolution and demography of two‐sex populations and consequently for management and conservation. Here, we propose a novel mating function that is robust by obeying all properties necessary to be ecologically valid and flexible by accommodating all mating systems and efficiency in mating encounters. We illustrate the usefulness of this novel function with an application to the sexually size‐dimorphic and polygynous wild boar (Sus scrofa). We show that the population growth rate depends on the harem size, the operational sex ratio, and the mating efficiency. This novel function can be applied to all mating systems and tactics and is highly relevant in the context of global changes under which mating systems and mating efficiency are expected to change.

中文翻译：

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适用于适合所有类型交配系统的双性别群体预测模型的强大且多功能的交配功能


常用的两性离散时间种群预测模型依赖于为连续时间框架开发的交配函数，这些框架高估了生殖个体之间的结合数量。这对我们理解双性别种群的进化和人口结构具有重要影响，从而对管理和保护具有重要影响。在这里，我们提出了一种新的交配功能，它通过适应所有交配系统和交配相遇的效率，遵守所有必要的生态有效和灵活的特性而变得稳健。我们通过应用于性大小二态和一夫多妻制的野猪 （Sus scrofa） 来说明这种新功能的有用性。我们表明，种群增长率取决于后宫规模、运营性别比和交配效率。这种新颖的功能可以应用于所有交配系统和策略，并且在预计交配系统和交配效率将发生变化的全球变化的背景下具有高度相关性。