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Suppose that 
represents
the observed net energy production by hunter-gatherers (HGs) and suppose 
is the
actual data on mortality rates for HGs. It follows that the actual value of
life, 
, say,
can be constructed as the solution to
Suppose now that mortality is given parametrically as
for 
and 
, as a
function of energy devoted to mortality reduction, s. If s were
chosen optimally, then
It follows that predicted energy, 
, say,
satisfies
so that predicted mortality satisfies
or
where 
.
A check of the theoretical specification can then be obtained by
comparing 
with 
, the
actual mortality rates, as in the following figure. Further, the robustness of
the model can be checked by specifying alternative values of 
and 
(Note:
Once 
and are
given, 
is chosen
so that (1)
fits the data best).
Figure 1: Forager Simulated and Actual Mortality Rates
Monday September 24 17:12:43 EDT 2001