Is It Wrong to Apply the Intrinsic Rate of Natural Increase to Individuals and Compare It among Genotypes?

Abstract

In order to gain insights into the seasonal dynamics of genetic variation in insecticide resistance within a natural population of Drosophila melanogaster during population growth, which we considered the most important ecological factor there, we conducted a series of genetic analyses of resistance factors involved in that population and compared individual-based intrinsic rates of natural increase among resistance genotypes. However, some researchers have argued that it is a misconception to apply the intrinsic rate of natural increase to individuals, because it is a population parameter. We consider that their criticisms were incorrect. In this article, I described our research briefly and set forth the reasons why we conducted these studies.