Mathematical Sciences: Modelling Territoriality and Stability of Wolf-Deer Interactions

研究人员研究了狼(Canis Lupus)领土形成的时空动态及其对白尾鹿(Odocoileus Virginianus)分布的影响。他们的模型是基于明尼苏达州东北部的实地研究，这些研究表明，相邻的狼群形成了不同的领土，这些领土被狼群很少侵入的“缓冲区”隔开。这些缓冲区可以为主要猎物白尾鹿提供空间避难所。实地研究表明，鹿的密度在领土间区域(避难所)较高，而在已建立领土的中心附近较低(那里的鹿种群可能受到强烈的捕食)。缓冲区还可能通过提供鹿的水库来稳定狼与鹿的互动，这些鹿可以重新殖民遭受严重捕食损失的狼的领地。研究人员开发的数学模型使用一组耦合的非线性偏微分方程组来描述狼-狼和狼-鹿的行为互动，并使用一组耦合的非线性差分方程组来描述狼和鹿的长期生态互动。模型方程的分析将采用摄动理论和有限差分数值方法等领域的数学和数值技术。这应该会导致对狼领地格局形成的详细量化理解，并说明领地如何影响鹿的分布和丰度。这项研究将在地域格局形成的一般领域得到更广泛的应用；这种格局为许多哺乳动物和鸟类的社会组织提供了基础。

The investigators study the spatial and temporal dynamics of territory formation for wolves (Canis lupus) and the resulting impact on the distribution of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Their model is based on field studies from northeastern Minnesota that indicate that adjacent wolf packs form distinct territories that are separated by "buffer zones" where packs rarely trespass. These buffer zones can provide a spatial refuge for the primary prey species: white-tailed deer. The field studies show that deer density is higher in the inter-territorial areas (refuges) and is lower near the center of established territories (where deer populations may be subject to intense predation). The buffer zones may also stabilize wolf-deer interactions by providing a reservoir of deer that can recolonize areas of wolf territory that have suffered heavy predation losses. The mathematical model the investigators develop describes the behavioral wolf-wolf and wolf-deer interactions using a system of coupled nonlinear partial differential equations, and describes the long-term ecological wolf-deer interactions using a system of coupled nonlinear difference equations. The analysis of the model equations will employ mathematical and numerical techniques from areas such as perturbation theory and finite difference numerical methods. This should lead to a detailed quantitative understanding of wolf territorial pattern formation, and an illustration of how territoriality influences the distribution and abundance of deer. The research will have a wider application to the general area of territorial pattern formation; such patterns provide the basis for social organization in many mammals and birds.