Evaluating Dispersion Strategies in Growth Models Subject to Geometric Catastrophes

• Published in: Journal of statistical physics Vol. 183; no. 2
• Main Authors: Junior, Valdivino Vargas, Machado, Fábio Prates, Roldán-Correa, Alejandro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.05.2021; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis; Catastrophes; Catastrophic events; Dispersion; Growth; Growth models; Mathematical and Computational Physics; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Population biology; Quantum Physics; Statistical Physics and Dynamical Systems; Survival; Theoretical; Catastrophes; 60J85; 92D25; 60J80; Extinction probability; Population dynamics; Branching processes
• ISSN: 0022-4715; 1572-9613
• DOI: 10.1007/s10955-021-02759-5

We consider stochastic growth models to represent population dynamics subject to geometric catastrophes. We analyze different dispersion schemes after catastrophes, to study how these schemes impact the population viability and comparing them with the scheme where there is no dispersion. In the schemes with dispersion, we consider that each colony, after the catastrophe event, has d new positions to place its survivors. We find out that when d = 2 no type of dispersion considered improves the chance of survival, at best it matches the scheme where there is no dispersion. When d = 3 , based on the survival probability, we conclude that dispersion may be an advantage or not, depending on its type, the rate of colony growth and the probability that an individual will survive when exposed to a catastrophe.