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Small population effects in stochastic population dynamics

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Abstract

The discreteness of units of small populations can produce large fluctuations from a classical continuous representation, especially when null populations play a crucial role. These belong to what are here referred to as emergent and evanescent species. A few model biological systems are introduced in which this is the case, as well as a toy model that suggests a path to avoid the associated mathematical complexities. The corresponding division into null and non-null population sectors is carried out to leading order for the model systems, with promising results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, 251 Mercer Street, New York, NY, 10012, USA

    Jerome K. Percus

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  1. Jerome K. Percus
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Supported in part by DOE Office of Basic Science, Chemical Division.

Reported at SMB03, the August 2003 meeting of the Society for Mathematical Biology.

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Percus, J.K. Small population effects in stochastic population dynamics. Bull. Math. Biol. 67, 1173–1194 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bulm.2005.01.005

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bulm.2005.01.005

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