Dynamical behavior of differential equation models of frequency and density dependent populations (Q792911)

The authors study the well known system of differential equations describing the evolutionary dynamics of a continuously reproducing diploid population where fitness is frequency and density dependent within a one locus two alleles model. For their analysis they use essentially the following assumptions: (A1) The genotype fitnesses decrease as the population number N increases, and (A2) for 0\(\leq p\leq 1\) (p is the frequency of one of the alleles) there exists an N such that the mean fitness \(\eta\) (p,N) is zero. This zero mean fitness curve is denoted by \({\mathcal C}.\) In the density dependent case they prove that each \(\omega\)-limit consists of equilibria and that interior equilibria correspond to critical points on the curve \({\mathcal C}\). In particular, a nondegenerate interior equilibrium is locally stable if and only if it is a local maximum along \({\mathcal C}\). Part of these results have been proved by Ginzburg, Theory of natural selection and population growth. Benjamin/Cummings (1983), and for the corresponding difference equations by \textit{B. Charlesworth}, Ecology 52, 469-474 (1971) and \textit{J. Roughgarden}, Theory of population genetics and evolutionary ecology: An introduction. MacMillan (1979). In the general case of frequency and density dependent fitness it is proved that each \(\omega\)-limit contains either an equilibrium point on \({\mathcal C}\) or is a periodic solution which surrounds an equilibrium point on \({\mathcal C}\). In fact, the authors provide an example where a Hopf bifurcation occurs. Also the stability of equilibria is more intricate, as one needs certain informations on the ascent of the zero allele fitness curves. Finally it is shown that a globally stable equilibrium may not occur at a maximum point of \({\mathcal C}\) contrary to the density dependent case.