gauseR

gauseR fits Lotka-Volterra models to ecological time-series data to quantify species interactions and ecological dynamics.

Key Features:

• Model fitting capabilities: Fits Lotka-Volterra models to time-series data involving one or more species.
• Parameter estimation and optimization: Implements parameter estimation and optimization techniques for fitted Lotka-Volterra models.
• Comprehensive dataset inclusion: Provides access to 42 datasets derived from Gause’s species interaction experiments and related studies.

Scientific Applications:

• Species interactions and multi-trophic dynamics: Enables analysis of pairwise and multi-species interaction dynamics and multi-trophic relationships.
• Gause experimental datasets: Applied to classic experimental studies by Gause to evaluate model fits against empirical data.
• Isle Royale trophic interactions: Used to analyze trophic interaction datasets from Isle Royale.
• Spatially structured mite populations: Used to model dynamics in spatially structured mite population datasets.
• Empirical model validation: Produces fitted dynamics and parameter estimates that can be compared against observed ecological expectations.

Methodology:

Fits Lotka-Volterra models to time-series data and estimates parameters using optimization techniques.