Discrete Population Models

Abstract

In this chapter we shall consider populations with a fixed interval between generations or possibly a fixed interval between measurements. Thus, we shall describe population size by a sequence {x _n }, with x ₀ denoting the initial population size, x ₁ the population size at the next generation (at time t ₁), x ₂ the population size at the second generation (at time t ₂), and so on. The underlying assumption will always be that population size at each stage is determined by the population sizes in past generations, but that intermediate population sizes between generations are not needed. Usually the time interval between generations is taken to be a constant.