Weakly Chaotic Population Dynamics in Random Ecological Networks

TL;DR

This paper investigates population dynamics in random ecological networks, revealing weak chaos characterized by algebraic growth of disturbances and abrupt population changes, with implications for biological extinction data.

Contribution

It introduces an asymptotic analysis of population dynamics showing weak chaos behavior in ecological networks, a novel perspective on long-term population fluctuations.

Findings

Population exhibits abrupt changes punctuating quiescent states.

Population disturbances grow algebraically over time.

Relevance to biological extinction patterns is discussed.

Abstract

Population dynamics in random ecological networks are investigated by analyzing a simple deterministic equation. It is found that a sequence of abrupt changes of populations punctuating quiescent states characterize the long time behavior. An asymptotic analysis is developed by introducing a log-scaled time, and it is shown that such a dynamical process behaves as non-steady weak chaos in which population disturbances grow algebraically in time. Also, some relevance of our study to taxonomic data of biological extinction is mentioned.