An ecological population study of lampreys in the Lotka-Volterra tertiary trophic level based on sex differences

Richard Mao, Ziru Su, Xu Ma and Mengli Liu

Ecological Modelling, 2024, vol. 496, issue C

Abstract: This study examines the adaptive changes in sex ratio on animal populations and its effects on ecosystem stability and interactions. The effects of sex ratio dynamics on the ecosystem were analyzed through mathematical modeling using lampreys as the study population. In this study, a two-stage tertiary trophic Lotka-Volterra mathematical model of ecological dynamics was developed, taking into account food preferences, ecological roles, and sex interactions of lampreys. The simulation results showed that a rapid adjustment in sex ratio led to a reduction in environmental loads, which triggered an early rebound increase in lampreys and predator populations. To assess the ability of lampreys populations to adjust sex ratios, this study used a combination of fuzzy integrated evaluation and hierarchical analysis methods. The results of the study revealed the importance of sex-adaptive traits for population development, including increased resource utilization efficiency and population fitness, as well as decreased reproductive success and reduced genetic diversity. Based on the RRT (resistance, resilience and temporal stability) method, this study constructed an ecosystem stability assessment model and investigated the effects of changes in the sex ratio of lampreys on ecosystem stability. The experimental results showed that ecosystem stability was highest when the sex ratio was 0.6 and lowest when the sex ratio was 0.2. Variation in sex ratio may affect the behavior and abundance of lampreys, thereby directly influencing their interactions with other species. Variability in sex ratio provides more resources for predators and parasites of lampreys, promotes their growth, and positively affects ecosystem balance. Simulation results showed that the model was highly stable under different interactions. In summary, this study reveals the important effects of sex ratio on ecosystem stability and interactions, and provides important insights into the understanding of adaptive evolutionary traits of species, ecosystem stability and ecological interactions.

Keywords: Gender suitability; Tertiary trophic Lotka-Volterra mathematical model of ecological dynamics; Hierarchical analysis; Ecosystem stability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:496:y:2024:i:c:s030438002400214x

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2024.110826

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