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Periodically varying externally imposed environmental effects on population dynamics
M Ballard1, V M Kenkre, M N Kuperman
1Consortium of the Americas for Interdisciplinary Science and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA.
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|November 5, 2004
Summary
Periodic environmental changes can create complex spatial and temporal patterns in populations. This study models how these changes influence population dynamics, with applications in microbial growth and disease spread.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Mathematical Biology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Population dynamics are influenced by environmental factors.
- Understanding these influences is crucial for predicting population behavior and disease spread.
- Periodic environmental changes represent a significant, yet complex, ecological driver.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of externally imposed periodic environmental changes on population dynamics.
- To model the emergence of spatiotemporal structures in populations under fluctuating conditions.
- To explore potential applications in microbial ecology and epidemic modeling.
Main Methods:
- Development of a simple mathematical model.
- Representation of environmental changes via temporal and spatial dependence of competition terms in an evolution equation.
- Analysis of the model to identify emergent structures.
Main Results:
- Periodic environmental changes lead to the emergence of spatiotemporal structures.
- The characteristics of these structures are dependent on the interplay of environmental change parameters.
- The model demonstrates a mechanism for pattern formation in dynamic environments.
Conclusions:
- Externally imposed periodic environmental changes can drive complex population dynamics.
- Emergent spatiotemporal structures are a key feature of these dynamics.
- The findings have implications for understanding bacterial growth and the spread of infectious diseases like Hantavirus.
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