Extinction time in growth models subject to binomial catastrophes

TL;DR

This paper investigates how dispersion strategies affect the mean extinction time of populations facing binomial catastrophes, identifying optimal strategies based on model parameters to enhance survival chances.

Contribution

It introduces a comparison of dispersion strategies in populations under binomial catastrophes, determining conditions for optimal survival strategies.

Findings

Dispersion strategies can increase mean extinction times under certain conditions.

Optimal strategy depends on specific model parameters.

Population survival probability varies with the type of catastrophe and dispersion approach.

Abstract

Populations are often subject to catastrophes that cause mass removal of individuals. Many stochastic growth models have been considered to explain such dynamics. Among the results reported, it has been considered whether dispersion strategies, at times of catastrophes, increase the survival probability of the population. In this paper, we contrast dispersion strategies comparing mean extinction times of the population when extinction occurs almost surely. In particular, we consider populations subject to binomial catastrophes, that is, the population size is reduced according to a binomial law when a catastrophe occurs. Our findings delineate the optimal strategy (dispersion or non-dispersion) based on variations in model parameter values.