tfa_lambda calculates the transfer function of the dominant eigenvalue
of a matrix (A), given a perturbation structure (specified using
d and e), and either a range of target values for asymptotic
population growth (lambdavalues) or a range of desired perturbation
magnitude (prange). Currently tfa_lambda can only work with rank-
one, single-parameter perturbations (see Hodgson & Townley 2004).
The perturbation structure is determined by d%*%t(e). Therefore,
the rows to be perturbed are determined by d and the columns to be
perturbed are determined by e. The specific values in d and e will
determine the relative perturbation magnitude. So for example, if only entry
[3,2] of a 3 by 3 matrix is to be perturbed, then d = c(0,0,1) and
e = c(0,1,0). If entries [3,2] and [3,3] are to be perturbed with the
magnitude of perturbation to [3,2] half that of [3,3] then d = c(0,0,1)
and e = c(0,0.5,1). d and e may also be expressed as
numeric one-column matrices, e.g. d = matrix(c(0,0,1), ncol=1),
e = matrix(c(0,0.5,1), ncol=1). See Hodgson et al. (2006) for more
information on perturbation structures.
The perturbation magnitude is determined by prange, a numeric vector
that gives the continuous range of perterbation magnitude to evaluate over.
This is usually a sequence (e.g. prange=seq(-0.1,0.1,0.001)), but
single transfer functions can be calculated using a single perturbation
magnitude (e.g. prange=-0.1). Because of the nature of the equation,
prange is used to find a range of lambda from which the perturbation
magnitudes are back-calculated, so the output perturbation magnitude
p will match prange in length and range but not in numerical
value (see value). Alternatively, a vector lambdarange can be
specified, representing a range of target lambda values from which the
corresponding perturbation values will be calculated. Only one of either
prange or lambdarange may be specified.
tfa_lambda uses the resolvent matrix in its calculation, which cannot be
computed if any lambda are equal to the dominant eigenvalue of
A. digits specifies the values of lambda that should be
excluded in order to avoid a computationally singular system. Any values
equal to the dominant eigenvalue of A rounded to an accuracy of
digits are excluded. digits should only need to be changed
when the system is found to be computationally singular, in which case
increasing digits should help to solve the problem.
tfa_lambda will not work for reducible matrices.
There is an S3 plotting method available (see plot.tfa
and examples below)