title: On the mechanistic derivation of various discrete-time population models.
abstract: We present a derivation of various discrete-time population models within a single unifying mechanistic context. By systematically varying the within-year patterns of reproduction and aggression between individuals we can derive various discrete-time population models. These models include classical examples such as the Ricker model, the Beverton-Holt model, the Skellam model, the Hassell model, and others. Some of these models until now lacked a good mechanistic interpretation or have been derived in a different context. By using this mechanistic approach, the model parameters can be interpreted in terms of individual behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, University of Turku, Turku, 20014 Finland. hanna.eskola@utu.fi
authors.forename: Hanna T M
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Eskola
authors.forename: Stefan A H
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Geritz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D017753:Ecosystem; D008954:Models, Biological; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012098:Reproduction