Gd. Ruxton et M. Doebeli, SPATIAL SELF-ORGANIZATION AND PERSISTENCE OF TRANSIENTS IN A METAPOPULATION MODEL, Proceedings - Royal Society. Biological Sciences, 263(1374), 1996, pp. 1153-1158
We extend the analysis of a previously published type of model represe
nting a linear set of habitat fragments each of which supports populat
ions which reproduce in (synchronized) discrete generations. The popul
ations are linked by a dispersal phase which occurs after each reprodu
ctive bout. Previously, this model has been shown to produce transient
behaviour lasting thousands of generations and characterized by sudde
n changes in behaviour. We confirm the existence of these effects and
characterize the conditions under which they are likely to occur. We a
lso demonstrate that the model predicts organized spatial heterogeneit
y across the system. This means that the dynamics of the ensemble can
be a poor predictor of the behaviour of individual populations, and fu
rther, that different populations within the same linked system can ex
perience quantitatively very different dynamics. We also demonstrate t
hat the model predicts that the peripheral populations should be subje
ct to greater temporal variation than the interior. We discuss the app
ropriateness of the model to a variety of natural systems and the impl
ications of its predictions.