Paper 1, Section I, A

Mathematical Biology
Part II, 2009

A discrete model for a population NtN_{t} consists of

Nt+1=rNt(1+bNt)2,N_{t+1}=\frac{r N_{t}}{\left(1+b N_{t}\right)^{2}},

where tt is discrete time and r,b>0r, b>0. What do rr and bb represent in this model? Show that for r>1r>1 there is a stable fixed point.

Suppose the initial condition is N1=1/bN_{1}=1 / b, and that r>4r>4. Show, with the help of a cobweb, that the population NtN_{t} is bounded by

4r2(4+r)2bNtr4b\frac{4 r^{2}}{(4+r)^{2} b} \leqslant N_{t} \leqslant \frac{r}{4 b}

and attains those bounds.