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A mathematical model for Neanderthal extinction

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38 Scopus citations

Abstract

A simple mathematical homogeneous model of competition is used to describe Neanderthal extinction in Europe. It considers two interacting species, Neanderthals and Early Modern Men, in the same ecological niche. Using paleontological data we claim that the parameter of similarity, between both species, fluctuates between 0.992 and 0.997. An extension of the model including migration (diffusion) is also discussed; nevertheless, extinction of Neanderthal seems unavoidable. Numerical analysis of travelling wave solutions (fronts) confirms the extinction. The wave-front-velocity is estimated from linear analysis and numerical simulations confirm this estimation. We conjecture a mathematical formulation for the principle of exclusion between competitive interacting species (Gause).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)295-298
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Theoretical Biology
Volume191
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 7 Apr 1998

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