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Stochastic Population Models

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Book cover Ecological Heterogeneity

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 86))

Abstract

Deterministic models dominated theory in ecology for much of its history despite recognition of the role of unpredictable environmental factors in population dynamics (Hutchinson, 1951, 1961; Andrewartha and Birch, 1954, 1984; Grubb, 1977, 1986; Sale, 1977; Wiens, 1977, 1986; Connell, 1978; Hubbell, 1979, 1980; Murdoch, 1979; Connell and Sousa, 1983; Sale and Douglas, 1984; Strong, 1984, 1986). Mathematical techniques for stochastic modeling were poorly developed and poorly understood. As a consequence, most ecological thinking about the role of stochastic factors was purely intuitive. Progress in stochastic population and community models has now allowed rigorous deduction to replace intuition. This progress has shown more complicated and intricate roles for stochastic factors than previously invisaged; but as is shown in this chapter, once elucidated, these roles can be understood intuitively.

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Authors
  1. Peter Chesson
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, McMaster University, L8S 4K1, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Jurek Kolasa

  2. Institute of Ecosystem Studies, The New York Botanical Garden, Mary Flagler Cary Arboretum, 12545, Millbrook, NY, USA

    Steward T. A. Pickett

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© 1991 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

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Chesson, P. (1991). Stochastic Population Models. In: Kolasa, J., Pickett, S.T.A. (eds) Ecological Heterogeneity. Ecological Studies, vol 86. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3062-5_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3062-5_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-7781-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-3062-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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