Reply #17: Predator-Prey Model (cached)

[pnorman]

Predator-prey models are argubly the building blocks of the bio- and ecosystems as biomasses are grown out of their resource masses. Species compete, evolve and disperse simply for the purpose of seeking resources to sustain their struggle for their very existence. Depending on their specific settings of applications, they can take the forms of resource-consumer, plant-herbivore, parasite-host, tumor cells (virus)-immune system, susceptible-infectious interactions, etc. They deal with the general loss-win interactions and hence may have applications outside of ecosystems. When seemingly competitive interactions are carefully examined, they are often in fact some forms of predator-prey interaction in disguise.
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These are normally slow moving oscillations that keep within broad limits, and are relatively benign as to ecology. But seriously disrupt either part of that model, and the result will most likely be WIDE swings, and a host of unintended consequences!