UNDERSTANDING MULTIPLE SPECIES ECOSYSTEM DYNAMICS USING A CONSUMER RESOURCE MODEL |
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Authors: | OBIORA C COLLINS KEVIN J DUFFY |
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Institution: | Institute of Systems Science, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa |
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Abstract: | Most ecological systems comprise multiple species coexisting and the dynamics of these multiple species can be important for understanding, management, and conservation. One method to study such ecological system dynamics is the use of heterogeneous models. Here we formulate and analyze a multiple species (n patches or groups) consumer resource model. Initial insights are gained by analyzing the special cases and . A threshold consumption number C0 is used to investigate system stability and hence the long‐term dynamics of the system. It is shown how this threshold consumption number can measure the effects and extent of multiple species coexistence in the system. |
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Keywords: | Differential equations multiple species coexistence stability analysis heterogeneity |
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