Stability of Ecosystems Under Invasions

Bull Math Biol. 2016 Nov;78(11):2186-2211. doi: 10.1007/s11538-016-0216-7. Epub 2016 Oct 19.

Abstract

This paper considers a model of foodwebs taking into account species extinction and invasion. We show that system stability depends not only on usual parameters (mortality rates, self-limitation coefficients, and resource abundances), but also on an additional parameter ("biodiversity potential"). The main result is as follows. For foodwebs with random parameters, we obtain an estimate of probability that the foodweb exposed to invasion survives. This estimate involves different system parameters, size and its topological properties.

Keywords: Ecosystem stability; Invasions; Species extinctions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biodiversity
  • Computer Simulation
  • Conservation of Natural Resources
  • Ecosystem*
  • Extinction, Biological
  • Food Chain
  • Introduced Species
  • Mathematical Concepts
  • Models, Biological*
  • Population Dynamics / statistics & numerical data