R-squared values of models.

The lion matrix model (a) performance is assessed against published lion abundance from 1975 to 2003 [31]. The cheetah IBM performance is assessed against unpublished cheetah monitoring data from 1991 to 2010 (b and c) and from 1991–2003 for (d) as lion published abundance stops in 2003. Cheetah modelled abundance is compared to data from 1991, as opposed to data from 1982, because the latest estimates are the most reliable. s.d stands for standard deviation.