PAPER TITLE :CHAOTIC DYNAMICS IN A POPULATION OF TRIBOLIUM CASTANEUM

FUTA JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE | VOLUME 9 NUMBER 2 2013

Paper Details

  • Author(s) : *S. T. Ogunjo, I. A. Fuwape and O. I. Olufemi
  • Abstract:

A nonlinear demographic model which has been used to predict the population dynamics of the flour beetle (Tribolium
castaneum) was simulated. A set of different equations (the LPA model) which describe the nonlinear life-stage interactions,
predominantly cannibalism was used. Manipulating the adult mortality rate, the changes in the dynamics from stable fixed
points to periodic cycles and from periodic oscillations to chaos were observed. Phase-space graphs of the data provided
evidence of chaotic behaviour. In order to take into consideration the natural fluctuations, some noise of various intensities
was introduced into the system. Results show an elongation of the chaotic region and an increase in Lyapunov exponent due
to the introduction of noise.
Keywords: Population dynamics, chaos, difference equation, noise.