The Levins Model

The concept of a metapopulation was introduced in 1969 by Richard Levins, an

American population ecologist. The Levins model is based on a population in which
individuals reproduce and die within local patches of the habitat, and their o¡spring
disperse into other patches. The number of individuals within each patch £uctuates
greatly, so that the subpopulation within a patch is vulnerable to extinction.The model
is
written in the form of a di¡erential equation:
Population Ecology: An Introduction to Computer Simulations. By Ruth Bernstein.
& 2003 JohnW|ley & Sons, Ltd
dp
dt ¼ cð1 pÞp ep ð5:1Þ
where c is the rate at which an occupied patch produces colonists, p is the proportion
of
patches that are occupied, and 1 p is the proportion of patches that are vacant. Thus,
cpð1 pÞ is the rate at which vacant patches become occupied patches.The rate at
which
occupied patches become vacant patches is the probability that a subpopulation
within a
patch goes extinct (e) times the proportion of patches that are occupied (p). The
model
assumes that (1) the metapopulation exists within a homogeneous habitat that is
subdivided into patches and (2) the young disperse randomly to all possible patches
within the
habitat. This model, while simple, forms the foundation of all later work on
metapopulation dynamics.
Consider a population of Smoky Butter£ies that lives on Goldenbush, a host plant that
occurs in moist patches within a scrub habitat. To make the model speci¢c to this
population, de¢ne p as the number of Goldenbush patches occupied by the butter£y
and
h as the total number of Goldenbush patches present in the habitat. Thus, h p is the
number of vacant Goldenbush patches. As in the equation above, c is the rate at which
an
occupied patch produces colonists and e is the rate at which an occupied patch goes
extinct:
dp
dt ¼ cðh pÞp ep ð5:2Þ
Ask MATLAB to solve the di¡erential equation:
44 p=simplify(dsolve(’Dp=c*(h-p)*p-e’,’p(0)=po’,’t’))
The Levins Model
The concept of a metapopulation was introduced in 1969 by Richard Levins, an
American population ecologist. The Levins model is based on a population in which
individuals reproduce and die within local patches of the habitat, and their o¡spring
disperse into other patches. The number of individuals within each patch £uctuates
greatly, so that the subpopulation within a patch is vulnerable to extinction.The model
is
written in the form of a di¡erential equation:
Population Ecology: An Introduction to Computer Simulations. By Ruth Bernstein.
& 2003 JohnW|ley & Sons, Ltd
dp
dt ¼ cð1 pÞp ep ð5:1Þ
where c is the rate at which an occupied patch produces colonists, p is the proportion
of
patches that are occupied, and 1 p is the proportion of patches that are vacant. Thus,
cpð1 pÞ is the rate at which vacant patches become occupied patches.The rate at
which
occupied patches become vacant patches is the probability that a subpopulation
within a
patch goes extinct (e) times the proportion of patches that are occupied (p). The
model
assumes that (1) the metapopulation exists within a homogeneous habitat that is
subdivided into patches and (2) the young disperse randomly to all possible patches
within the
habitat. This model, while simple, forms the foundation of all later work on
metapopulation dynamics.
Consider a population of Smoky Butter£ies that lives on Goldenbush, a host plant that
occurs in moist patches within a scrub habitat. To make the model speci¢c to this
population, de¢ne p as the number of Goldenbush patches occupied by the butter£y
and
h as the total number of Goldenbush patches present in the habitat. Thus, h p is the
number of vacant Goldenbush patches. As in the equation above, c is the rate at which
an
occupied patch produces colonists and e is the rate at which an occupied patch goes
extinct:
dp
dt ¼ cðh pÞp ep ð5:2Þ
Ask MATLAB to solve the di¡erential equation:
44 p=simplify(dsolve(’Dp=c*(h-p)*p-e’,’p(0)=po’,’t’)) The Levins Model
The concept of a metapopulation was introduced in 1969 by Richard Levins, an
American population ecologist. The Levins model is based on a population in which
individuals reproduce and die within local patches of the habitat, and their o¡spring
disperse into other patches. The number of individuals within each patch £uctuates
greatly, so that the subpopulation within a patch is vulnerable to extinction.The model
is
written in the form of a di¡erential equation:
Population Ecology: An Introduction to Computer Simulations. By Ruth Bernstein.
& 2003 JohnW|ley & Sons, Ltd
dp
dt ¼ cð1 pÞp ep ð5:1Þ
where c is the rate at which an occupied patch produces colonists, p is the proportion
of
patches that are occupied, and 1 p is the proportion of patches that are vacant. Thus,
cpð1 pÞ is the rate at which vacant patches become occupied patches.The rate at
which
occupied patches become vacant patches is the probability that a subpopulation
within a
patch goes extinct (e) times the proportion of patches that are occupied (p). The
model
assumes that (1) the metapopulation exists within a homogeneous habitat that is
subdivided into patches and (2) the young disperse randomly to all possible patches
within the
habitat. This model, while simple, forms the foundation of all later work on
metapopulation dynamics.
Consider a population of Smoky Butter£ies that lives on Goldenbush, a host plant that
occurs in moist patches within a scrub habitat. To make the model speci¢c to this
population, de¢ne p as the number of Goldenbush patches occupied by the butter£y
and
h as the total number of Goldenbush patches present in the habitat. Thus, h p is the
number of vacant Goldenbush patches. As in the equation above, c is the rate at which
an
occupied patch produces colonists and e is the rate at which an occupied patch goes
extinct:
dp
dt ¼ cðh pÞp ep ð5:2Þ
Ask MATLAB to solve the di¡erential equation:
44 p=simplify(dsolve(’Dp=c*(h-p)*p-e’,’p(0)=po’,’t’)) The Levins Model
The concept of a metapopulation was introduced in 1969 by Richard Levins, an
American population ecologist. The Levins model is based on a population in which
individuals reproduce and die within local patches of the habitat, and their o¡spring
disperse into other patches. The number of individuals within each patch £uctuates
greatly, so that the subpopulation within a patch is vulnerable to extinction.The model
is
written in the form of a di¡erential equation:
Population Ecology: An Introduction to Computer Simulations. By Ruth Bernstein.
& 2003 JohnW|ley & Sons, Ltd
dp
dt ¼ cð1 pÞp ep ð5:1Þ
where c is the rate at which an occupied patch produces colonists, p is the proportion
of
patches that are occupied, and 1 p is the proportion of patches that are vacant. Thus,
cpð1 pÞ is the rate at which vacant patches become occupied patches.The rate at
which
occupied patches become vacant patches is the probability that a subpopulation
within a
patch goes extinct (e) times the proportion of patches that are occupied (p). The
model
assumes that (1) the metapopulation exists within a homogeneous habitat that is
subdivided into patches and (2) the young disperse randomly to all possible patches
within the
habitat. This model, while simple, forms the foundation of all later work on
metapopulation dynamics.
Consider a population of Smoky Butter£ies that lives on Goldenbush, a host plant that
occurs in moist patches within a scrub habitat. To make the model speci¢c to this
population, de¢ne p as the number of Goldenbush patches occupied by the butter£y
and
h as the total number of Goldenbush patches present in the habitat. Thus, h p is the
number of vacant Goldenbush patches. As in the equation above, c is the rate at which
an
occupied patch produces colonists and e is the rate at which an occupied patch goes
extinct:
dp
dt ¼ cðh pÞp ep ð5:2Þ
Ask MATLAB to solve the di¡erential equation:
44 p=simplify(dsolve(’Dp=c*(h-p)*p-e’,’p(0)=po’,’t’)) The Levins Model
The concept of a metapopulation was introduced in 1969 by Richard Levins, an
American population ecologist. The Levins model is based on a population in which
individuals reproduce and die within local patches of the habitat, and their o¡spring
disperse into other patches. The number of individuals within each patch £uctuates
greatly, so that the subpopulation within a patch is vulnerable to extinction.The model
is
written in the form of a di¡erential equation:
Population Ecology: An Introduction to Computer Simulations. By Ruth Bernstein.
& 2003 JohnW|ley & Sons, Ltd
dp
dt ¼ cð1 pÞp ep ð5:1Þ
where c is the rate at which an occupied patch produces colonists, p is the proportion
of
patches that are occupied, and 1 p is the proportion of patches that are vacant. Thus,
cpð1 pÞ is the rate at which vacant patches become occupied patches.The rate at
which
occupied patches become vacant patches is the probability that a subpopulation
within a
patch goes extinct (e) times the proportion of patches that are occupied (p). The
model
assumes that (1) the metapopulation exists within a homogeneous habitat that is
subdivided into patches and (2) the young disperse randomly to all possible patches
within the
habitat. This model, while simple, forms the foundation of all later work on
metapopulation dynamics.
Consider a population of Smoky Butter£ies that lives on Goldenbush, a host plant that
occurs in moist patches within a scrub habitat. To make the model speci¢c to this
population, de¢ne p as the number of Goldenbush patches occupied by the butter£y
and
h as the total number of Goldenbush patches present in the habitat. Thus, h p is the
number of vacant Goldenbush patches. As in the equation above, c is the rate at which
an
occupied patch produces colonists and e is the rate at which an occupied patch goes
extinct:
dp
dt ¼ cðh pÞp ep ð5:2Þ
Ask MATLAB to solve the di¡erential equation:
44 p=simplify(dsolve(’Dp=c*(h-p)*p-e’,’p(0)=po’,’t’)) The Levins Model
The concept of a metapopulation was introduced in 1969 by Richard Levins, an
American population ecologist. The Levins model is based on a population in which
individuals reproduce and die within local patches of the habitat, and their o¡spring
disperse into other patches. The number of individuals within each patch £uctuates
greatly, so that the subpopulation within a patch is vulnerable to extinction.The model
is
written in the form of a di¡erential equation:
Population Ecology: An Introduction to Computer Simulations. By Ruth Bernstein.
& 2003 JohnW|ley & Sons, Ltd
dp
dt ¼ cð1 pÞp ep ð5:1Þ
where c is the rate at which an occupied patch produces colonists, p is the proportion
of
patches that are occupied, and 1 p is the proportion of patches that are vacant. Thus,
cpð1 pÞ is the rate at which vacant patches become occupied patches.The rate at
which
occupied patches become vacant patches is the probability that a subpopulation
within a
patch goes extinct (e) times the proportion of patches that are occupied (p). The
model
assumes that (1) the metapopulation exists within a homogeneous habitat that is
subdivided into patches and (2) the young disperse randomly to all possible patches
within the
habitat. This model, while simple, forms the foundation of all later work on
metapopulation dynamics.
Consider a population of Smoky Butter£ies that lives on Goldenbush, a host plant that
occurs in moist patches within a scrub habitat. To make the model speci¢c to this
population, de¢ne p as the number of Goldenbush patches occupied by the butter£y
and
h as the total number of Goldenbush patches present in the habitat. Thus, h p is the
number of vacant Goldenbush patches. As in the equation above, c is the rate at which
an
occupied patch produces colonists and e is the rate at which an occupied patch goes
extinct:
dp
dt ¼ cðh pÞp ep ð5:2Þ
Ask MATLAB to solve the di¡erential equation:
44 p=simplify(dsolve(’Dp=c*(h-p)*p-e’,’p(0)=po’,’t’)) The Levins Model
The concept of a metapopulation was introduced in 1969 by Richard Levins, an
American population ecologist. The Levins model is based on a population in which
individuals reproduce and die within local patches of the habitat, and their o¡spring
disperse into other patches. The number of individuals within each patch £uctuates
greatly, so that the subpopulation within a patch is vulnerable to extinction.The model
is
written in the form of a di¡erential equation:
Population Ecology: An Introduction to Computer Simulations. By Ruth Bernstein.
& 2003 JohnW|ley & Sons, Ltd
dp
dt ¼ cð1 pÞp ep ð5:1Þ
where c is the rate at which an occupied patch produces colonists, p is the proportion
of
patches that are occupied, and 1 p is the proportion of patches that are vacant. Thus,
cpð1 pÞ is the rate at which vacant patches become occupied patches.The rate at
which
occupied patches become vacant patches is the probability that a subpopulation
within a
patch goes extinct (e) times the proportion of patches that are occupied (p). The
model
assumes that (1) the metapopulation exists within a homogeneous habitat that is
subdivided into patches and (2) the young disperse randomly to all possible patches
within the
habitat. This model, while simple, forms the foundation of all later work on
metapopulation dynamics.
Consider a population of Smoky Butter£ies that lives on Goldenbush, a host plant that
occurs in moist patches within a scrub habitat. To make the model speci¢c to this
population, de¢ne p as the number of Goldenbush patches occupied by the butter£y
and
h as the total number of Goldenbush patches present in the habitat. Thus, h p is the
number of vacant Goldenbush patches. As in the equation above, c is the rate at which
an
occupied patch produces colonists and e is the rate at which an occupied patch goes
extinct:
dp
dt ¼ cðh pÞp ep ð5:2Þ
Ask MATLAB to solve the di¡erential equation:
44 p=simplify(dsolve(’Dp=c*(h-p)*p-e’,’p(0)=po’,’t’)) The Levins Model
The concept of a metapopulation was introduced in 1969 by Richard Levins, an
American population ecologist. The Levins model is based on a population in which
individuals reproduce and die within local patches of the habitat, and their o¡spring
disperse into other patches. The number of individuals within each patch £uctuates
greatly, so that the subpopulation within a patch is vulnerable to extinction.The model
is
written in the form of a di¡erential equation:
Population Ecology: An Introduction to Computer Simulations. By Ruth Bernstein.
& 2003 JohnW|ley & Sons, Ltd
dp
dt ¼ cð1 pÞp ep ð5:1Þ
where c is the rate at which an occupied patch produces colonists, p is the proportion
of
patches that are occupied, and 1 p is the proportion of patches that are vacant. Thus,
cpð1 pÞ is the rate at which vacant patches become occupied patches.The rate at
which
occupied patches become vacant patches is the probability that a subpopulation
within a
patch goes extinct (e) times the proportion of patches that are occupied (p). The
model
assumes that (1) the metapopulation exists within a homogeneous habitat that is
subdivided into patches and (2) the young disperse randomly to all possible patches
within the
habitat. This model, while simple, forms the foundation of all later work on
metapopulation dynamics.
Consider a population of Smoky Butter£ies that lives on Goldenbush, a host plant that
occurs in moist patches within a scrub habitat. To make the model speci¢c to this
population, de¢ne p as the number of Goldenbush patches occupied by the butter£y
and
h as the total number of Goldenbush patches present in the habitat. Thus, h p is the
number of vacant Goldenbush patches. As in the equation above, c is the rate at which
an
occupied patch produces colonists and e is the rate at which an occupied patch goes
extinct:
dp
dt ¼ cðh pÞp ep ð5:2Þ
Ask MATLAB to solve the di¡erential equation:
44 p=simplify(dsolve(’Dp=c*(h-p)*p-e’,’p(0)=po’,’t’))