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Eco-evolutionary cyclic dominance among predators, prey, and parasites
Sayantan Nag Chowdhury1, Jeet Banerjee2, Matjaž Perc3
1Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Journal of Theoretical Biology
|March 3, 2023
Summary
Parasites are crucial in predator-prey dynamics. Including free space in ecological models stabilizes interactions, revealing biodiversity limits and factors promoting a healthy biota.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Mathematical Biology
- Evolutionary Game Theory
Background:
- Predator-prey interactions are fundamental in ecology with broad implications.
- Parasites are often overlooked yet play a significant role in ecological dynamics.
- Classical models like Lotka-Volterra may not fully capture complex species interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of parasites in predator-prey systems.
- To develop a more biologically realistic model of predator-prey-parasite interactions.
- To explore the impact of incorporating 'free space' as a resource.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel mathematical model integrating predator-prey-parasite dynamics with free space.
- Utilizing a game-theoretical payoff matrix for a realistic interaction setup.
- Employing analytical derivations and numerical simulations to analyze model behavior.
Main Results:
- A simple predator-prey-parasite model without free space failed to ensure stable coexistence.
- Introducing free space stabilized population dynamics through emergent cyclic dominance.
- Identified parameter regions and bifurcation types leading to species coexistence.
Conclusions:
- Free space, as a finite resource, is critical for stabilizing predator-prey-parasite interactions.
- The model highlights the limits of biodiversity in such systems.
- Findings offer insights into factors that promote a healthy and diverse biota.
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