Inhomogeneous maps: the basic theorems and some applications

Abstract

Non-linear maps can possess various dynamical behaviors varying from stable steady states and cycles to chaotic oscillations. Most models assume that individuals within a given population are identical ignoring the fundamental role of variation. Here we develop a theory of inhomogeneous maps and apply the general approach to modeling heterogeneous populations with discrete evolutionary time step. We show that the behavior of the inhomogeneous maps may possess complex transition regimes, which depends both on the mean and the variance of the initial parameter distribution. The examples of inhomogeneous models are discussed.