Samuel Krueger and Epaminondas Rosa
Department of Physics, Illinois State University
In nature, there are a number of species that have population cycles that persist in time, but with peaks that are chaotic. These species often depend on the population of other species in an ecological region, or patch. A typical example would be a patch containing predators, herbivores, and vegetation all which interact with each other. For instance, lynxes (predator) depend on hares (herbivore) which depend on vegetation. Here we are interested in understanding how the populations of multiple interconnected patches evolve over time. We present a model study of three patches that are coupled by mutual migration of lynxes and hares. The model shows, among other features, that certain types of coupling between patches produce synchronization patterns that can be weak or robust. This study is relevant because it may provide a valuable tool for population control.