Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Carrying Capacity”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 649 records · Page 36Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

The evolution of self-fertilization in density-regulated populations.

The evolution of selfing in hermaphrodites has been studied to reveal the demographic conditions that lead to intermediate selfing rates. Using a demographic model based on Ricker-type density regulation, we assume first that, independent of population density, inbred individuals survive less well than outbred individuals and second, that inbred and outbred individuals differ in their competitive abilities in density-regulated populations. The evolution of selfing, driven by inbreeding depression and the cost of outcrossing, is then analysed for three fundamentally different demographic scenarios: stable population densities, deterministically varying population densities (resulting from cyclical or chaotic population dynamics) and stochastic fluctuations of carrying capacities (resulting from environmental noise). We show that even under stable demographic conditions evolutionary outcomes are not confined to either complete selfing or full outcrossing. Instead, intermediate selfing rates arise under a wide range of conditions, depending on the nature of competitive interactions between inbred and outbred individuals. We also explore the evolution of selfing under deterministic and stochastic density fluctuations to demonstrate that such environmental conditions can evolutionarily stabilize intermediate selfing rates. This is the first study, to our knowledge, to consider in detail the effect of density regulation on the evolution of selfing rates.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2003

Habitat conversion and global avian biodiversity loss.

The magnitude of the impacts of human activities on global biodiversity has been documented at several organizational levels. However, although there have been numerous studies of the effects of local-scale changes in land use (e.g. logging) on the abundance of groups of organisms, broader continental or global-scale analyses addressing the same basic issues remain largely wanting. None the less, changing patterns of land use, associated with the appropriation of increasing proportions of net primary productivity by the human population, seem likely not simply to have reduced the diversity of life, but also to have reduced the carrying capacity of the environment in terms of the numbers of other organisms that it can sustain. Here, we estimate the size of the existing global breeding bird population, and then make a first approximation as to how much this has been modified as a consequence of land-use changes wrought by human activities. Summing numbers across different land-use classes gives a best current estimate of a global population of less than 100 billion breeding bird individuals. Applying the same methodology to estimates of original land-use distributions suggests that conservatively this may represent a loss of between a fifth and a quarter of pre-agricultural bird numbers. This loss is shared across a range of temperate and tropical land-use types.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Continuum versus discrete model: a comparison for multicellular tumour spheroids.

We study multicellular tumour spheroids with a continuum model based on partial differential equations (PDEs). The model includes viable and necrotic cell densities, as well as oxygen and glucose concentrations. Viable cells consume nutrients and become necrotic below critical nutrient concentrations. Proliferation of viable cells is contact-inhibited if the total cellular density locally exceeds volume carrying capacity. The model is discussed under the assumption of spherical symmetry. Unknown model parameters are determined by simultaneously fitting the cell number to several experimental growth curves for different nutrient concentrations. The outcome of the PDE model is compared with an analogous off-lattice agent-based model for tumour growth. It turns out that the numerically more efficient PDE model suffices to explain the macroscopic growth data. As in the agent-based model, we find that the experimental growth curves are only reproduced when a necrotic core develops. However, evaluation of morphometric properties yields differences between the models and the experiment.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Bovine tuberculosis in badger (Meles meles) populations in southwest England: the use of a spatial stochastic simulation model to understand the dynamics of the disease.

A spatial stochastic simulation model was developed to describe the dynamics of bovine tuberculosis in badger populations in southwest England, based on data from the literature and from unpublished sources. As there are no data on intra- and intergroup infection probabilities, estimates of these were obtained through repeated simulations based on field observations of the spread and prevalence of the disease. The model works on a grid-cell basis, with each grid cell potentially occupied by one badger social group; immigration to and emigration from the main grid are incorporated. Population regulation is assumed to occur at the group level through density-dependent fecundity and cub mortality, and the model can be run for various disease-free equilibrium group sizes (which are determined by the carrying capacity of the environment). The model works on a quarterly (three-monthly) basis and processes are stochastic at the individual level. Three classes of individual (adults, yearlings and cubs) and three classes of infection (susceptible, infected-but-not-infectious and infectious) are recognized. Bovine tuberculosis wa shown to persist in badger populations for long periods of time, even in populations with a disease-free equilibrium group size of only four adults and yearlings. However, with standard rates of intergroup infection and movement, the disease only became endemic in populations with a disease-free equilibrium group size greater than six adults and yearlings. In the endemic situation, the prevalence of the disease ranged between 11-22 degrees depending on the combination of inter- and intragroup infection probabilities used. Endemic infection within the homogeneous environment of the grid was characterized by a high degree of heterogeneity. Patches of infection were spatio-temporally unstable, but shifted in location relatively slowly. Spread of the disease from a point source of infection with standard rates of intergroup movement and infection only occurred to any marked extent in populations with disease-free equilibrium group sizes of eight or more adults and yearlings. Increasing the intergroup infection probability had a significant effect on increasing the probability and rate of spread, and considerably lowered the threshold group size for spread from a point source to around four adults and yearlings. However, increasing the rates of intergroup movement reduced the probability of spread of the disease except at the largest groups sizes. When both intergroup infection and movements were increased, the effects of increased infection in enhancing spread were offset to some degree by the increased movements. Perturbation to the badger population, as may be caused by control operations, could therefore increase the probability of persistence or spread of an infection.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Scramble in behaviour and ecology.

Nicholson's distinction between 'scramble' and 'contest' modes of competition has received widespread attention in ecology and in behaviour, though the emphasis has been different between the two disciplines. In ecology the focus has been on the effects on population; in behavioural ecology the focus has been on the consequences at the individual level. This paper reviews and develops a theory of scramble competition at the individual level, deriving a general evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) for individual scramble expenditure in a patchy habitat in which individuals compete in local groups for available resources, and examines two population consequences. The critical parameter determining the relationship between individual scramble expenditure and the number of competitors in a patch is the expected resource per capita. If resource input, R, to a patch is constant and independent of the number of competitors, n, then as the number of competitors increases, the per-capita resources declines as R/n, and the ESS scramble level declines (in proportion to (n-1)/n2). However, if the resource input to a patch is positively related to the number of competitors in the patch, scramble expenditure may increase with the number of competitors. In the case where the per-capita resource input stays constant (i.e. R(n) = Rn), the scramble level increases with competitor number (in proportion to (n-1) /n). There are plausible ecological reasons why either of these extreme limits may be approached in nature, making it important to ascertain the relationship between R and n before predicting individual scramble expenditure. For example, resource input may be constant when groups of competitors are constrained to remain together in given patches, and constant per-capita resources may be approached when ideal-free foraging rules apply. However, in the latter case, scramble expenditure must be accounted for in determining the ideal-free distribution. An analysis shows that this leads to 'undermatching', i.e. the ratio of numbers of competitors for good/bad patches becomes progressively less than the ratio of input rates for good/bad patches as the difference between the good and bad patches increases. A second population consequence of the scramble ESS relates to the fact that scrambles may dramatically affect fitness. The per-capita gain in energy can be reduced by a factor of up to 1/n as a result of scramble expenditure, potentially reducing realized population size to as little as the square root of the maximum potential carrying capacity, though reasons are given why such large reductions are unlikely.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

The kinetics of mycelial growth.

Based on the assumption that mycelial growth follows the logistic growth law, formulae have been developed to express the growth of fungal colonies under a variety of geometric constraints. Analysis was done of Deppe's (1973) results on surface colony growth, where the mass of the colony grew exponentially during most colonial growth, and of Trinci's (1970) results on submerged "pellet" growth, where the mass of the colony increased as the cube of time during most colony growth. In both cases, the linear dimensions of the colony were increasing linearly while the mass was changing in these quantitatively different manners. It is concluded that these disparate growth behaviours result from different habits of growth; in two-dimensional colony growth a new region of space if invaded by an amount of mycelium small in proportion to the final "carrying capacity" of the region, and in three-dimensional colony growth a region is invaded with an amount of mycelium almost equal to the region's final limiting mycelial mass. Thus, the types of growth law for colony mass which are applicable for a particular organism in a particular physical environment depend critically on the degree to which the invading hyphae initially occupy the space.

Fungi↗
PubMed1999

Diffusivelike buffering and saturation of large rivers.

We use mass balance data from Asian rivers together with a first-order diffusive simplification of the St. Venant-Exner equations to characterize river flood plain processes and discuss the reaction of a large model river to a hill slope supply of eroded masses. The simple analytical solution derived for the long-term profile of the river bed shows that (i) the system converges towards a state in which it reacts to perturbations in erosion of the landscape by small-amplitude oscillations around an average "stationary" state, (ii) to have an effective influence on the river plain profile, the perturbations need to have frequencies smaller than the characteristic frequencies of the river system, and (iii) this river buffering might be linked with a possible long-term saturation of the system carrying capacity.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Random population dispersal in a linear hostile environment.

We consider the Fisher equation and its generalization for an asocial population in a linear, hostile environment. The method of center manifold analysis is used to obtain the time-dependent solution of the former, nonlinear equation. The correct critical habitat size is obtained; in addition, the result for the steady state central density compares favorably with the exact result for relatively large population sizes (up to one half of the carrying capacity). For a model of asocial growth we obtain the expanded criteria for survival. This includes the habitat size, the population size at which positive growth begins, and also the minimum initial central density.

Environment↗
PubMed2002

Trichotomous-noise-induced catastrophic shifts in symbiotic ecosystems.

An N-species Lotka-Volterra stochastic model of a symbiotic ecological system with the Verhulst self-regulation mechanism is considered. The effect of fluctuating environment on the carrying capacity of a population is modeled as the colored three-level Markovian (trichotomous) noise. In the framework of the mean-field theory an explicit self-consistency equation for stationary states is presented. Stability and instability conditions and colored-noise-induced discontinuous transitions (catastrophic shifts) in the model are investigated. In some cases the mean field exhibits hysteresis as a function of the noise parameters. It is shown that the occurrence of catastrophic shifts can be controlled by noise parameters, such as correlation time, amplitude, and flatness. The dependence of the critical coupling strengths on the noise parameters is found and illustrated by phase diagrams. Implications of the results on some modifications of the model are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Speciation in multidimensional evolutionary space.

Adaptive dynamics in two-dimensional phenotype space is investigated by computer simulation. The model assumes Lotka-Voltera-type competition and a stochastic mutation process. The carrying capacity has a single maximum in the origin of the strategy space and the competition coefficient decreases with strategy difference. Evolutionary branching, an asexual analog of adaptive speciation, is observed with suitable parameters. The branching at the singular point, which is a fixed point of the directional evolution, may occur into two or three, but not more, directions. Further branchings may occur after the initial separation. The probability of three-branching is studied as a function of several parameters. We conclude that the two-way branching is the predominant mode of adaptive speciation.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2004

Role of evolution by natural selection in population dynamics.

Using a Monte Carlo approach we study the role of inheritance and natural selection in the dynamics of populations. We show that a population subject to inheritance has a much better chance of survival in a given condition than a population where new generations do not inherit genomes of their parents. The dependence of the survival chance on such factors as selection pressure, fecundity, or carrying capacity of the system is much stronger when selection and inheritance are present. We demonstrate, in accordance with biological observations, that in certain conditions evolution can save a population which would perish without it.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Colored-noise-induced discontinuous transitions in symbiotic ecosystems.

A symbiotic ecosystem is studied by means of the Lotka-Volterra stochastic model, using the generalized Verhulst self-regulation. The effect of fluctuating environment on the carrying capacity of a population is taken into account as dichotomous noise. The study is a follow-up of our investigation of symbiotic ecosystems subjected to three-level (trichotomous) noise [Phys. Rev. E 65, 051108 (2002)]]. Relying on the mean-field theory, an exact self-consistency equation for stationary states is derived. In some cases the mean field exhibits hysteresis as a function of noise parameters. It is established that random interactions with the environment can cause discontinuous transitions. The dependence of the critical coupling strengths on the noise parameters is found and illustrated by phase diagrams. Predictions from the mean-field theory are compared with the results of numerical simulations. Our results provide a possible scenario for catastrophic shifts of population sizes observed in nature.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2005

Addendum to "Colored-noise-induced discontinuous transitions in symbiotic ecosystems".

A symbiotic ecosystem with Gompertz self-regulation and with adaptive competition between populations is studied by means of a N-species Lotka-Volterra stochastic model. The influence of fluctuating environment on the carrying capacity of a population is modeled as a dichotomous noise. The study is a follow up of previous investigations of symbiotic ecosystems subjected to the generalized Verhulst self-regulation [Phys. Rev. E 69, 061106 (2004); 65, 051108 (2002)]. In the framework of mean-field approximation the behavior of the solutions of the self-consistency equation for a stationary system is examined analytically in the full phase space of system parameters. Depending on the mutual interplay of symbiosis and competition of species, variation of noise parameters (amplitude, correlation time) can induce doubly unidirectional discontinuous transitions as well as single unidirectional discontinuous transitions of the mean population size.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2006

Colored-noise-induced Hopf bifurcations in predator-prey communities.

A broad class of (N+1) -species ratio-dependent predator-prey stochastic models, which consist of one predator population and N prey populations, is considered. The effect of a fluctuating environment on the carrying capacities of prey populations is taken into account as colored noise. In the framework of the mean-field theory, approximate self-consistency equations for prey-populations mean density and for predator-population density are derived (to the first order in the noise variance). In some cases, the mean field exhibits Hopf bifurcations as a function of noise correlation time. The corresponding transitions are found to be reentrant, e.g., the periodic orbit appears above a critical value of the noise correlation time, but disappears again at a higher value of the noise correlation time. The nonmonotonous dependence of the critical control parameter on the noise correlation time is found, and the conditions for the occurrence of Hopf bifurcations are presented. Our results provide a possible scenario for environmental-fluctuations-induced transitions between the oscillatory regime and equilibrium state of population sizes observed in nature.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Bottleneck-induced transitions in a minimal model for intracellular transport.

We consider the influence of disorder on the nonequilibrium steady state of a minimal model for intracellular transport. In this model particles move unidirectionally according to the totally asymmetric exclusion process (TASEP) and are coupled to a bulk reservoir by Langmuir kinetics. Our discussion focuses on localized point defects acting as a bottleneck for the particle transport. Combining analytic methods and numerical simulations, we identify a rich phase behavior as a function of the defect strength. Our analytical approach relies on an effective mean-field theory obtained by splitting the lattice into two subsystems, which are effectively connected exploiting the local current conservation. Introducing the key concept of a carrying capacity, the maximal current that can flow through the bulk of the system (including the defect), we discriminate between the cases where the defect is irrelevant and those where it acts as a bottleneck and induces various novel phases (called bottleneck phases). Contrary to the simple TASEP in the presence of inhomogeneities, many scenarios emerge and translate into rich underlying phase diagrams, the topological properties of which are discussed.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed2001

Current saturation and electrical breakdown in multiwalled carbon nanotubes.

We investigate the limits of high energy transport in multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). In contrast to metal wires, MWNTs do not fail in the continuous, accelerating manner typical of electromigration. Instead, they fail via a series of sharp, equally sized current steps. We assign these steps to the sequential destruction of individual nanotube shells, consistent with the MWNT's concentric-shell geometry. Furthermore, the initiation of this failure is very sensitive to air exposure. In air failure is initiated by oxidation at a particular power, whereas in vacuum MWNTs can withstand much higher power densities and reach their full current carrying capacities.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Current-induced embrittlement of atomic wires.

Recent experiments suggest that gold single-atom contacts and atomic chains break at applied voltages of 1 to 2 V. In order to understand why current flow affects these defect-free conductors, we have calculated the current-induced forces on atoms in a Au chain between two Au electrodes. These forces are not by themselves sufficient to rupture the chain. However, the current reduces the work to break the chain, which results in a dramatic increase in the probability of thermally activated spontaneous fracture of the chain. This current-induced embrittlement poses a fundamental limit to the current-carrying capacity of atomic wires.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Multichannel ballistic transport in multiwall carbon nanotubes.

The electric transport properties of an individual vertical multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) were studied in situ at room temperature in a scanning electron microscope chamber. It was found that the single MWCNT has a large current-carrying capacity, and the maximum current can reach 7.27 mA. At the same time, a very low resistance of about 34.4 ohms and a high conductance of about (460-490)G0 were obtained. The experimental observations imply a multichannel quasiballistic conducting behavior occurring in the MWCNTs with large diameter, which can be attributed to the participation of multiple walls in electrical transport and the large diameter of the MWCNTs.

Journal Article↗