Time delay as a key factor of model plankton dynamics

Medvinsky, Alexander B., Tikhonova, Irene A., Li, Bai Lian and Malchow, Horst (2004) Time delay as a key factor of model plankton dynamics. Comptes Rendus Biologies, 327 (3), 277-282. (doi:10.1016/j.crvi.2003.11.013).

Abstract

Studies of the mechanisms underlying complex dynamics of ecological systems at various spatial and time scales bring increasing awareness that complexity is an intrinsic feature of ecological functioning. This paper is to investigate the role of such an ecologically significant parameter as the time delay due to maturation processes in the complex plankton dynamics. We show that the time lag T₁, associated with the zooplankton maturation period can lead to essential changes in the plankton dynamics. Particularly, we show that the coexistence of limit cycle and chaotic attractor we have recently found to be typical of the system at T₁=0 [A.B. Medvinsky, I.A. Tikhonova, R.R. Aliev, B.-L. Li, Z.-S. Lin, H. Malchow, Patchy environment as a factor of complex plankton dynamics, Phys. Rev. E 64 (2001) 021915] is replaced by pure chaotic plankton dynamics as T₁ becomes more than a critical value. The results obtained imply that chaos is a rather common phenomenon in the plankton functioning.

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Contributors

Author: Irene A. Tikhonova

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