Taylor McAdam

Harvey Mudd College Mathematics 2013

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Thesis Proposal: Integrodifference Population Models for Time-Varying River Habitats
Thesis Advisor: Professor Jon Jacobsen
Second Reader: Professor Alfonso Castro
E-Mail: tmcadam@hmc.edu

Analysis of Time-Dependent Integrodifference Population Models

The population dynamics of species with separate growth and dispersal stages can be described by a discrete-time, continuous-space integrodifference equation relating the population density at one time step to an integral expression involving the density at the previous time step. Prior research on this model has assumed that the equation governing the population dynamics remains fixed over time, however real environments are constantly in flux. We show that for time-varying models, there is a value Λ that can be computed to determine a sufficient condition for population survival. We also develop a framework for analyzing persistence of a population for which growth and dispersal behavior alternate predictably throughout time. Finally, we consider a number of time-varying models that include randomness.

Midyear Report

Joint Math Meetings Poster

Presentation Days Poster

Final Presentation