Individual variability and population regulation: an individual-based model

Authored by J Uchmanski

Date Published: 2000

DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0706.2000.900312.x

Sponsors: Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

Platforms: No platforms listed

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Mathematical description

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

To study the influence of individual variability on population dynamics an individual-based model of the dynamics of a single population consisting of different individuals is constructed. The model is based on differences in individual assimilation rates due to intraspecific competition and variability of initial weights. The model exhibits ``imperfect regulation{''}, i.e., the number of individuals in the population oscillates and sooner or later the population becomes extinct. When individual variability is included, the model produces longer population extinction times than without individual variability. The average extinction time is not however a monotonic function of the degree of individual variability.

Tags

differentiation Dynamics ecology Distributions stability Density Plant-populations Competitive asymmetry Body weights Skewness