Abstract
Techniques from queueing theory can be used to model the growth of individuals in a stochastic environment where the growth rate cannot exceed some physiological maximum. In the simplifying case where there are no metabolic costs and the individual has an unlimited gut size, a general theory for the probability of reaching a target weight is presented. The role of environmental variance is examined in two different cases; randomly varying prey size and clustering in the prey arrival rate. It is argued that when food is scarce environmental stochasticity is beneficial to the individual but when food is abundant it can lower the chance of survival. The growth and recruitment of larval fish is used as an example.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
