The competition model with Holling type II competitive response to interfering time

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Theoretical Ecology
• Mathematical Biology

Background:

• Classical competition models predict species exclusion more often than observed in nature.
• Understanding mechanisms promoting species coexistence is crucial for ecological theory.

Purpose of the Study:

• To extend the classical competition model by incorporating a novel mechanism: individuals investing time in competing individuals of the other species.
• To investigate how this new assumption affects species coexistence dynamics and outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Revisiting the classical Lotka-Volterra competition model.
• Introducing a Holling type II functional response term representing 'competitive response to interfering time' (CRIT).
• Analyzing the extended model's phase-space and dynamical behaviors.

Main Results:

• The extended model encompasses the classical model as a special case.
• The range of parameter values allowing for stable coexistence is enlarged.
• Novel dynamical scenarios emerge, including bi-stable and tri-stable conditional coexistence driven by priority effects.

Conclusions:

• Incorporating 'competitive response to interfering time' provides a more realistic framework for species coexistence.
• Priority effects can lead to conditional outcomes, including stable coexistence or competitive exclusion.
• This extended model offers new insights into the frequent observation of species coexistence in natural ecosystems.