R: Maximization of the loglikelihood given the standard Neutral...

maxLikelihood.ESF {GUILDS} | R Documentation

## Maximization of the loglikelihood given the standard Neutral Model, using the Etienne Sampling Formula

### Description

This function computes the maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters of the Neutral model, using the Etienne Sampling Formula

### Usage

    maxLikelihood.ESF(init_vals, abund, verbose = TRUE)

### Arguments

`init_vals` | A vector of initial starting values, of the format c(theta, m)
`abund` | Vector containing a record of the number of individuals per species
`verbose` | TRUE/FALSE flag, indicates whether intermediate output is shown on screen

### Value

the output is a list containing the following:

`par` | a vector containing the parameter values at the maximum likelihood c(theta, m)
`fvalues` | the likelihood at the corresponding parameter values
`conv` | gives a message on convergence of optimization; conv = 0 means convergence

### Author(s)

Thijs Janzen

### References

Etienne, R.S. (2005). A new sampling formula for neutral biodiversity. Ecology Letters, 8(3), 253-260.

### Examples

    	A <- c(1,1,1,3,5,8)
    	maxLikelihood.ESF( c(7,0.1), abund = A)

[Package GUILDS version 1.3 Index]