[MS06] The Interplay of Life: Species, Ecosystems, and Disease Dynamics

[MS06-03] Exploring Coexistence and Stability in Modified Lotka-Volterra Models

*Maica Krizna Gavina¹, Takeru Tahara, Kei-ichi Tainaka, Genki Ichinose, Takuya Okabe, Tatsuya Togashi, Takashi Nagatani, Jin Yoshimura (1. University of the Philippines Los Baños (Philippines))

Keywords:

Modified Lotka-Volterra Model

The classical Lotka-Volterra (LV) models, which describe competition and predator-prey interactions, offer essential insights into species coexistence and population dynamics. However, these models often struggle to capture the stability and persistence seen in natural ecosystems. To overcome this limitation, we introduce non-linear modifications to the LV framework. In competitive systems, incorporating a non-linear crowding effect reveals that stable coexistence among multiple species is possible under weak crowding conditions, as increased mortality at high densities amplifies intraspecific competition. This mechanism provides a plausible explanation for the high species diversity observed in nature. In predator-prey dynamics, introducing small, sporadic immigration into predator or prey populations stabilizes interactions, transforming cyclic oscillations or divergent extinctions into sustained coexistence. These findings demonstrate that modified LV models can more accurately represent the coexistence and stability of ecological communities, bridging theoretical predictions with observed natural phenomena.