No label defined (Q4946264)

Let us consider, for instance, the logistic equations and the coral growth model. By a change of parameter each of these Volterra-Hamilton systems are written as the geodesic equations in a two-dimensional Finsler space. These two systems are of fundamental importance in ecology theory and each has quite a different interpretation from the other. By smooth coordinate changes, however, each can be written in the straight-line form \(d^2 x^i/ds^2=0\), \(i=1,2\). Can this serious difficulty be rectified? How can we adjust the geometrical perspective so that two Volterra-Hamilton systems are distinct from this new point-of-view, and in a way which reflects their ecological distinction? We call this the Ecological Identification Problem. The solution can be given only with the use of 2-dimensional Finsler geometry and the so-called principal scalar invariant (or main scalar) \(I\). For the entire collection see [Zbl 0931.00037].