Crisis-limited chaotic dynamics in ecological systems

We review our recent efforts to understand why chaotic dynamics is rarely observed in natural populations. The study of two-model ecosystems considered in this paper suggests that chaos exists in narrow parameter ranges. This dynamical behaviour is caused by the crisis-induced sudden death of chaotic attractors. The computed bifurcation diagrams and basin boundary calculations reinforce our earlier conclusion [Chaos, Solitons & Fractals 8 (12) (1997) 1933; Int J Bifurc Chaos 8 (6) (1998) 1325] that the reason why chaos is rarely observed in natural populations is hidden within the mathematical structure of the ecological interactions and not with the problem associated with the data (insufficient length, precision, noise, etc.) and its analysis. We also argue that crisis-limited chaotic dynamics can be commonly found in model terrestrial ecosystems. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.