We study the behavior of diffusive Lotka-Volterra systems in environments with spatially varying carrying capacities. In particular, we use numeric and analytic techniques to study two similar models for population growth, in order to determine their qualitative differences. Additionally, we investigate competition models in the presence of periodic disasters, in order to determine what factors affect competitive dominance. We found that under conditions of high spatial heterogeneity, the model for population growth was the main factor determining coexistence. Under low spatial heterogeneity, the effect of disturbance on the stronger competitor was the main factor determining coexistence.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:CLAREMONT/oai:scholarship.claremont.edu:hmc_theses-1193 |
| Date | 01 May 2006 |
| Creators | Stump, Simon Maccracken |
| Publisher | Scholarship @ Claremont |
| Source Sets | Claremont Colleges |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | HMC Senior Theses |
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