Diffusion-Induced Instability in Model Ecosystems: Another Possible Explanation of Patchiness.
Abstract
As a diffusion process in an ecosystem tends to give rise to a uniform density of population in space, it may be expected that diffusion plays a general role of increasing the stability in a system of mixed populations and resources. However, diffusion may also induce an instability to a system which is basically stable without diffusion. Thus a system of two interacting and diffusing populations both being co-existent in a spatially uniform distribution, hence with no patterns, may exhibit an interaction-diffusion instability. The instability results in a form of biological waves in space and time, thus leading to a 'patchiness.' (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1974
- Accession Number
- AD0779875
Entities
People
- Akira Okubo
Organizations
- Johns Hopkins University