Modelling population growth in stage‐grouped organisms: a simple extension to the Leslie model

A simple method for decomposing a population's stage grouping into the underlying age structure is described. The population's dynamics can then be predicted using standard age‐structured models, such as Leslie's matrix model. The method overcomes objections to previous attempts to use Leslie's procedure for modelling population growth in stage‐grouped organisms. A hypothetical example is used to illustrate the new technique.