ABSTRACT
The matrix application to population studies was originally described by Lewis (1942) and then independently by Leslie (1948, 1959). The model has since been modified for various applications by Lefkovitch (1965), Pennycuick etal. (1968) and Williamson (1959,1967). Lately, Usher (1966,1967,1969a, 1969b) has extended the use of the model into the study of plant populations and forest management. In a further paper Usher (1972) described an adaptation of the model which is suitable for studying the cycling of nutrients and the flow of energy in an ecosystem.
