Mathematical modeling of cyclic population dynamics

Abstract

A rock–paper–scissors three species cyclic ecosystem is considered. Deterministic mathematical models based on delayed ODEs and nonlocal PDEs are proposed and studied both analytically and numerically. Transitions between the coexistence state that is associated with biodiversity, limit cycles and the heteroclinic cycle are discussed for the ODE model. Traveling waves between the coexistence state and single species states are studied for the PDE model. We show that delay promotes oscillatory instabilities of the coexistence state while nonlocality promotes stationary cellular instabilities.