An uncertain life: Demography in random environments (Q1123156)

A demographic theory of populations with time-dependent random vital rates (of the type \(N_{t+1}=X_{t+1}N_ t)\) is developed including i.i.d., Markov, semi-Markov and ARMA models. Some kind of demographic weak ergodicity as well as stationary random processes generating the vital rates (sometimes additionally being ergodic and time-reversible) are assumed. Convergence rates of the Lyapunov exponent, the distribution of the age structure and small noise approximations are discussed for a random fertility model and in the general situation. Several other quantities of biological interest are estimated. Also some results on evolutions in random environments and the temporal structure of life histories are reviewed. The paper reviews the subject at a rather general level. Many mathematical questions remain open and have to be answered rigorously and in detail.