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The Lotka-Volterra predator-prey model

The Lotka-Volterra predator-prey model assumes that prey reproduction causes the population to increase exponentially whilst starvation causes the prey population decrease exponentially. The feeding of the predators results in a mixing term that is the same as that leading to logistic growth in the Kermack-McKendrick model.

Note that this model is a standard textbook example in Mathematical biology and yet uses the exponential growth model of Malthus that was debunked by Darwin.

Themes

Exponential growth, Exponential decay, Logistic

History

1798 AD Malthus Exponential population growth
1859 AD Darwin Debunking of Malthus
1910 AD Lotka & Volterra Lotka-Volterra predator-prey model