Bottom-up derivation of discrete-time population models with the Allee effect

This paper presents a framework in which various single-species discrete-time population models exhibiting the Allee effect are derived from first principles. Here, the Allee effect means a reduction in individual fitness at low population sizes. The derivation is based on the distribution of female and male individuals among discrete resource sites, in addition to competitive and cooperative interaction among individuals. These derivations show how the derived population models depend on the type and the intensity of competition, and the degree of clustering of individuals. Along with these models exhibiting the Allee effect, this paper also presents first-principles derivation of population models without the Allee effect which include a parameter relating to the intensity of competition. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.