Modeling Complexity in Population Dynamics

 

Abstract

The paradigm of cubic autocatalytic replicators with decay in coupled isothermal continuous stirred tank reactors is selected as a model to study complex behavior in population dynamics of sexually reproducing species in a heterogenous environment. It is shown that even a setup with single species in two coupled environments may have regions in parameter space that result in chaotic behavior, hence segregation in the environment causes complexity in the system dynamics.  Furthermore, the phenomena of emergence is illustrated through case studies, where coupled environments can host species, that would not survive, should the coupling be removed.