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Dynamics of a contact process with ontogeny.
Joshua S Weitz1, Daniel H Rothman
1Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA. jsweitz@princeton.edu
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|September 28, 2004
Summary
This study models sessile organism dynamics, revealing that spatial competition, not just reproduction, drives population structure. Simulations show a shift from dilute to ring-like phases due to the ecological cost of reproduction.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Mathematical Biology
- Theoretical Ecology
Background:
- Sessile organisms exhibit complex growth, dispersal, and mortality patterns.
- Existing models often lack spatially explicit growth dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a spatially explicit model for sessile organism dynamics.
- To investigate the impact of organismal growth and spatial competition on population structure.
- To analyze phase transitions in sessile ecosystems.
Main Methods:
- Extension of the contact process to include organismal growth.
- Development of a size-structured mean field theory.
- Monte Carlo simulations of a spatial implementation.
- Calculation of phase transitions and spatial autocorrelation analysis.
Main Results:
- Mean field theory predicted an oscillatory phase due to excess reproduction.
- Spatial simulations revealed a transition to a ring-like phase driven by competition for space.
- The life-death phase transition was found to be in the same universality class as directed percolation.
Conclusions:
- Spatial competition and the ecological cost of reproduction are critical factors in sessile organism population structure.
- The model provides insights into ecosystem dynamics and structure.
- The ring-like phase highlights the importance of spatial interactions in ecological systems.