| Affiliation: | (1) Laboratoire de Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, ESPCI, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France, FR;(2) Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Avenida Litoranea, s/n, 24210-340 Niterói, RJ, Brazil, BR |
| Abstract: | In this paper, by using a computer model for the evolution of age-structured populations, we show that in a sexual population subject to: (i) senescence, (ii) age-increasing reproductive risks, and (iii) long juvenile dependence, menopause arises spontaneously, in order to guarantee the survival of the offspring. Received: 12 September 1998 / Accepted: 14 September 1998 |
