Computational models for population dynamics: two case studies

Individual based models are a widely used tool for the study of population dynamics. They are computational models that allow scientists to explore the mechanisms through which populations evolve from how individuals interact with each other and their environment. Individual based models can embody stochastic aspects in an easy and natural way and are better suited for describing the inherent random character of natural phenomena than classical mathematical models based on differential equations. This is true especially when the size of the population is not large enough to ignore stochastic aspects. In this paper we show the use of individual based models in two case studies of fish population dynamics to study the advantages/disadvantages of a mixed type of reproduction sexual/asexual in a fluctuating environment and the role of a reproduction system with locality as a cause of persistence of stable polymorphism.