Diffusion models for population dynamics incorporating individual behavior at boundaries: Applications to refuge design (Q1289348)

The authors construct models for dispersal of a population which incorporate the response of individuals to interfaces between habitat types. The paper is divided into six sections. The first section is introductory in nature and contains a brief account of diffusion models for population dynamics. The construction of a diffusion model describing the density of the population is discussed in section 2. In section 3, the methods of analysis and some simple conclusions about parameter dependence are discussed. In section 4, the authors consider how the effectiveness of buffer zones depends on their size, quality, and the population's response to the interface between the buffer zone and the refuge. Section 5 deals with the effect of sensitivity of habitat quality on the behavior of the average growth rate. Discussions and conclusions are discussed in section 6.