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Updated: Jun 19, 2026

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Published on: May 18, 2021
A note on semi-discrete modelling in the life sciences
Ludovic Mailleret1, Valérie Lemesle
1Institut National de Recherche Agronomique, Unité de Recherche 880, 06903 Sophia Antipolis, France. ludovic.mailleret@sophia.inra.fr
Abstract:
Semi-discrete models are a particular class of hybrid dynamical systems that undergo continuous dynamics most of the time but repeatedly experience discrete changes at some given moments. In the life sciences, since the first semi-discrete model was derived to describe population dynamics by Beverton & Holt (Beverton & Holt 1957 In Fisheries investigations, series 2, vol. 19), a large body of literature has been concerned with such modelling approaches. The aim of the present contribution is twofold. On the one hand, it provides a comprehensive introduction to semi-discrete modelling through two illustrative examples: the classical work by Beverton and Holt is recalled and an original example on immigration in a population model affected by a strong Allee effect is worked out. On the other hand, a short overview of the different applications of semi-discrete models in the life sciences is proposed.
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