Variable Developmental Period: Intraspecific Competition Models with Conditional Age‐Specific Maturity and Mortality Schedules

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Abstract
A simulation model is presented incorporating a variable time to maturity resulting from density—dependent scarcity of resources for the immature stages. This mechanism is shown to be capable of regulating a population and the model population persists under these conditions. The model is qualitatively robust to changes in the parameters: resource input rate, offspring input rate, and immature death rate. Implications drawn from the model behavior with respect to pest control, “r—selection” under “K” conditions and field experiments are discussed.