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TL;DR: There is a dearth of actual experimental evidence. However: there is at least one study that confirmed the process ([STUDY #7] - Myxococcus xanthus; by Fiegna and Velicer, 2003). Another study experimentally confirmed higher extinction risk as well ([STUDY #8] - Paul F. Doherty's study of dimorphic bird species an [STUDY #9] - Denson K. McLain). ...

The conservation biology literature has a great deal of information, particularly with reference to developing species survival plans (e.g., Traill et al. [2007] report a minimum effective population size of ~4,000 will give a 99% persistence probability of 40 generations). Because the question specifically mentions human populations, I'll focus my answer ...

Population dynamics occupies a whole subset of mathematical biology. Perhaps the most pragmatic uses for modelling population dynamics come from the fields of epidemiology for modelling disease infection and transmission through a population (one such article), or ecology modelling things like forestation, fishing dynamics, predator-prey relationships (an ...

Two previous answers listed many applications of population dynamics models. I want to add that they are also important for conservation of endangered species. For example classical stage-class model (Crouse et al 1987, free copy) indicate that the most effective way to protect sea turtles is reducing mortality of large juveniles. Moreover, you don't have ...

Mark-recapture is the most frequently used method for small mammals. It's best when combined with uncertainty estimates and population dynamics models (e.g. projection matrix). The fluctuations of small rodent populations have long fascinated scientists, and various models have been developed. Logistic regression models can be used to estimate likelihood ...

Leonardo's already given you an excellent answer, but I thought I'd add my perspective. I'm a mathematical epidemiologist, so I'd at least like to believe these types of models are useful. For me, there are a number of things population dynamics models are especially useful for: Highlighting data requirements. Yes, models need data, as you've mentioned. ...

I guess you meant the population size stability. It is considered that the biosystems will increase their capacity of adaptation when evolving in very fluctuating environments. I believe the population stability is embedded in the adaptability of individuals. There is a measurement about it, evolvability, when the environment changes, the faster the ...

I think it does make sense - with a population density for finland that is so low, the disease with such a low beta cannot communicate to enough people to propagate. The number of people who have this disease will be fewer each week. I think this makes sense because at 16 / km^2, you can expect that practically nobody will ever see each other. This is ...

Classification of equilibrium points is done on the basis of the eigenvalues. If the two eigenvalues have no real parts, it is a hyperbolic fixed point and represents undamped oscillation. If both have a negative real part, it is a stable fixed point. If any of the eigenvalues has an imaginary part then it represents damped oscillations (in that case the ...

Great question! A lot of things affect how quickly a population or species can adapt to a new environment, including population size, mutation rate, generation time, standing genetic diversity, and selective pressure. The diversity of life encompasses practically all combinations of those variables. A bacterial population might very well contain enough ...

This is a hard problem - estimates of total living things in an given environment are usually created by looking at the number of species and individuals found in a sample area and extrapolating. As far as estimating the number of living things in the world, there are still lots of species which are not known, making this number still unknown for the world ...

A solid limit: k must be greater than zero. Unless you're talking about some cannibalistic species or something that isn't suited to the model at all. As long as the species is productive in the new environment: k is greater than 1. The population is probably growing or again you probably won't be using an exponential growth model. As mentioned before you ...

*It's been several years since I've worked with similar equations. The following reply is based on memory, and if anyone has a firmer grasp of the materials, please modify or answer as you see fit. I would assume λ is under ideal conditions or as an average of whatever species you're working with. Your modified lifetime reproductive output still leaves out ...