Can a population cross its survival threshold?
In a strong Allee effect, per-capita growth can be negative below a critical population.
Inside this model
Each period N changes by .18N(1−N/100)(N/A−1), where A is the chosen threshold, with values clipped at zero and 100. The plot runs 60 periods.
Out in the world
A practical use
Think about reintroducing a species when too few individuals may fail to find mates or cooperate.
A useful lens. Not a universal law.
- The threshold is hypothetical and the model omits age, habitat and environmental noise.
Associated thinkers
Further reading
Explore the original research or the teaching reference behind this experiment.
W. C. Allee — Animal Aggregations ↗