Does discrete logic equation ignore death rate during off season?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion highlights the appropriateness of using a discrete logistic equation to model beetle population growth, particularly due to their distinct breeding seasons. The equation, Xn+1=Xn+rXn(1-(X2/K)), effectively captures population changes from one breeding season to the next but fails to account for mortality rates during the off-season. This limitation is significant, as the short duration of breeding seasons relative to the lag time before the next season means that off-season deaths could greatly influence overall population dynamics. While the model can provide estimates for population size immediately before or after breeding, it does not accurately reflect changes during non-breeding periods without incorporating death rates. The discussion raises important considerations for accurately modeling population dynamics in species with specific breeding cycles.
kochibacha
Messages
14
Reaction score
0
Observation of the growth of some beetle population suggests that discrete logistic equation would be more appropriate since these animals have distinct breeding season.

discrete logistic equation: Xn+1=Xn+rXn(1-(X2/K))


the result of this equation accounts for population only season to season which means it neglects the death rate from off season (for birth rate it does make sense that the population will grow at some period of calendar but if the breeding seasons were very short compare to the lag time between next season the death rate from off season would have a high impact on the population and this model would not give an appropriate population in function of time.
 
Biology news on Phys.org
The model gives one step per breeding season - sure, it cannot include deaths between seasons. Depending on the factors used and the initial values, the model can describe the population directly before or directly after the breeding session (or somewhere in between, but that is more complicated). The population for other times can be estimated based on this value and the death rate.
 
X2 ?

...[/color]
 

Thread 'Chagas disease now established in US'

Chagas disease, long considered only a threat abroad, is established in California and the Southern U.S. According to articles in the Los Angeles Times, "Chagas disease, long considered only a threat abroad, is established in California and the Southern U.S.", and "Kissing bugs bring deadly disease to California". LA Times requires a subscription. Related article -...
View full post »

Thread 'I need help understanding this quote about recent Natural Selection'

I am reading Nicholas Wade's book A Troublesome Inheritance. Please let's not make this thread a critique about the merits or demerits of the book. This thread is my attempt to understanding the evidence that Natural Selection in the human genome was recent and regional. On Page 103 of A Troublesome Inheritance, Wade writes the following: "The regional nature of selection was first made evident in a genomewide scan undertaken by Jonathan Pritchard, a population geneticist at the...
View full post »

Thread 'Flesh-eating New World Screwworm re-occurrence in US'

Deadly cattle screwworm parasite found in US patient. What to know. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2025/08/25/new-world-screwworm-human-case/85813010007/ Exclusive: U.S. confirms nation's first travel-associated human screwworm case connected to Central American outbreak https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/us-confirms-nations-first-travel-associated-human-screwworm-case-connected-2025-08-25/...
View full post »

Similar threads

Discrete Time Birth and Death Process
Replies
6
Views
4K
How Can Logistic Regression Model Amphibian Breeding Migration Probability?
Replies
1
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top