Relationship Between Two Stock–Recruitment Curves

Abstract

The Beverton and Holt and Ricker stock–recruitment curves can be used to generate population growth curves. The Beverton and Holt curve is then identical to a difference equation model for the logistic growth curve, and may be derived in terms of equations for linearly density-dependent population regulation. The same equations lead to the Ricker curve if the density-regulating effect is assumed to depend only on population size at the beginning of the interval between generations. At low rates of population growth, the Ricker curve approaches that of Beverton and Holt. The two curves appear to represent certain concepts known in population biology as "r and K selection."