Lotka–Volterra model applied to two sympatric species of Liolaemus in competition

• Published in: Ecological modelling Vol. 439; p. 109347
• Main Authors: Novoa-Muñoz, Francisco, Gómez-Fuentealba, Nelly, Osorio-Baeza, Florencia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-01-2021
• Subjects: Competence; Lizards; Modelation; Population dynamics; Thermoregulation; Thermoregulation; Modelation; Population dynamics; Competence; Lizards
• ISSN: 0304-3800; 1872-7026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2020.109347

This paper models the population dynamics and competition of two sympatric species of lizards Liolaemus cyanogaster and Liolaemus tenuis under the following scenarios: (a) population dynamics of each species, (b) competition to thermoregulate, and (c) competition for the substrate. The hypothesis was that a variant of the Lotka–Volterra model is able to explain patterns related to population dynamics and competition between both species. The data used come from a study carried out between spring and autumn of 2011, 2012 and 2013, in the Chilean locality of Nonguén Valley. With these data we estimate the number of individuals of each species as well as their body temperature and the place where it was found (on the ground or higher). The model analyzed was appropriate for the three scenarios studied and it described a parsimonious coexistence between the species and a point of equilibrium that turned out to be an asymptotically stable attractor; that is, if these species start with a certain initial amount, they will always reach an equitable final amount.
•The Lotka–Volterra model can consistently predict the population dynamics of each species.•The Lotka–Volterra model can consistently predict the competition to thermoregulate.•The Lotka–Volterra model can consistently predict the competition for the substrate between the two sympatric species of lizards.