The effect of limiting resources in aging populations

TL;DR

This paper investigates how different implementations of the Verhulst carrying capacity term affect aging population models, specifically comparing its application to all individuals versus only newborns in the Penna model.

Contribution

It introduces and compares two approaches to implementing the Verhulst term in the Penna aging model, highlighting their impact on simulation outcomes.

Findings

Variations in model features depending on Verhulst implementation

Differences observed when Verhulst deaths are restricted to specific age groups

Insights into resource limitation effects on aging population dynamics

Abstract

The concept of a carrying capacity is essential in most models to prevent unlimited growth. Despite the large amount of deaths it introduces, the actual influence of the Verhulst term in simulations is often times not accounted for. Generally, it is treated merely as a scaling parameter that functions to keep simulated populations within computer limits. Here, we compare two different implementations of the concept in the Penna model - Vehulst applied to all individuals (VA) and to newborns only (VB). We observe variations in certain model features when random Verhulst deaths are restricted to a single age group.