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Persistence of the weaker species in a non-homogeneous competitive system: Exact result through a quantum mechanical analogy

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Abstract

We have studied an ecological system of two species, which we denotestrong andweak, respectively, that compete for a single food resource. This system is modelled as a three component reaction-diffusion process. In the presence of a solitary pulse of increased resources, the weaker competitor can diffuse toward this surplus, gaining a competitive advantage and hence persisting in contraposition with the classical Lotka-Volterra result. An exact analytical solution has been found through a quantum mechanical analogy. A stability analysis of this solution against changes in different parameters has been carried out.

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Author notes

  1. M. N. Kuperman (Fellow CONICET) & H. S. Wio (Member Carrera del Investigador CONICET)

    Present address: , Argentina

  2. B. Von Haeften

    Present address: Departmento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Funes 3350, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Atómico Bariloche and Instituto Balseiro, Bariloche, 8400, Río Negro, Argentina

    M. N. Kuperman (Fellow CONICET), B. Von Haeften & H. S. Wio (Member Carrera del Investigador CONICET)

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  1. M. N. Kuperman
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  2. B. Von Haeften
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  3. H. S. Wio
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Kuperman, M.N., Von Haeften, B. & Wio, H.S. Persistence of the weaker species in a non-homogeneous competitive system: Exact result through a quantum mechanical analogy. Bltn Mathcal Biology 58, 1001–1018 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02459494

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02459494

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