The effect of limiting resources in aging populations

Abstract

The concept of a carrying capacity is essential in most models to prevent unlimited growth. Despite the large amount of deaths it introduces, the actual influence of the Verhulst term in simulations is often times not accounted for. Generally, it is treated merely as a scaling parameter that functions to keep simulated populations within computer limits. Here, we compare two different implementations of the concept in the Penna model - Vehulst applied to all individuals (VA) and to newborns only (VB). We observe variations in certain model features when random Verhulst deaths are restricted to a single age group.