I’d hoped that effective population size growth rates might be at-least-not-completely-terrible proxies for absolute population size growth rates. If I remember correctly, some of these papers do present their results as suggesting changes in absolute population size, but I think you’re most likely right: the relevant datasets probably can’t give us meaningful insight into absolute population growth trends.
Thanks for the clarifying comment!
I’d hoped that effective population size growth rates might be at-least-not-completely-terrible proxies for absolute population size growth rates. If I remember correctly, some of these papers do present their results as suggesting changes in absolute population size, but I think you’re most likely right: the relevant datasets probably can’t give us meaningful insight into absolute population growth trends.