A time-based switching scheme for nomadic-colonial alternation under noisy conditions

Recently, a population model that incorporates the Allee effect was developed to explain how behavior-switching organisms can survive even when each behavior would individually lead to extinction. The model exhibits nonlinear dynamics in ecologically realistic settings. The organisms modelled could periodically exploit their habitat as a colony, then switch to a nomadic lifestyle to allow the environment to regenerate. This strategy was shown to be viable as long as colonies grew sufficiently quickly when environmental resources were abundant, and colonists switched to a nomadic lifestyle before resource levels dipped dangerously low. Here, we extend the applicability of this model by incorporating noise that can arise due to uncertainty, external interference, or seasonal variations. Importantly, we have demonstrated that time-based switching between behaviors can ensure that survival is robust to noise. In this way, time-based switching scheme can be used to complement the previous model by emulating the success of nomadic-colonial strategies under real life conditions more closely.