dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaDiffusion and Home Range Parameters from Rodent Population Measurements in Panama
| Authors | L. Giuggioli, G. Abramson, V. M. Kenkre, G. Suzán, E. Marcé, T. L. Yates |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | q-bio/0511025 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/q-bio/0511025 |
| Journal | Bull. Math. Biol. 67, (2005) 1135-1149 |
Abstract
Simple random walk considerations are used to interpret rodent population data collected in Hantavirus-related investigations in Panama regarding the short-tailed cane mouse, \emph{Zygodontomys brevicauda}. The diffusion constant of mice is evaluated to be of the order of (and larger than) 200 meters squared per day. The investigation also shows that the rodent mean square displacement saturates in time, indicating the existence of a spatial scale which could, in principle, be the home range of the rodents. This home range is concluded to be of the order of 70 meters. Theoretical analysis is provided for interpreting animal movement data in terms of an interplay of the home ranges, the diffusion constant, and the size of the grid used to monitor the movement. The study gives impetus to a substantial modification of existing theory of the spread of the Hantavirus epidemic which has been based on simple diffusive motion of the rodents, and additionally emphasizes the importance for developing more accurate techniques for the measurement of rodent movement.
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"abstract": "Simple random walk considerations are used to interpret rodent population\ndata collected in Hantavirus-related investigations in Panama regarding the\nshort-tailed cane mouse, \\emph{Zygodontomys brevicauda}. The diffusion constant\nof mice is evaluated to be of the order of (and larger than) 200 meters squared\nper day. The investigation also shows that the rodent mean square displacement\nsaturates in time, indicating the existence of a spatial scale which could, in\nprinciple, be the home range of the rodents. This home range is concluded to be\nof the order of 70 meters. Theoretical analysis is provided for interpreting\nanimal movement data in terms of an interplay of the home ranges, the diffusion\nconstant, and the size of the grid used to monitor the movement. The study\ngives impetus to a substantial modification of existing theory of the spread of\nthe Hantavirus epidemic which has been based on simple diffusive motion of the\nrodents, and additionally emphasizes the importance for developing more\naccurate techniques for the measurement of rodent movement.",
"arxiv_id": "q-bio/0511025",
"authors": [
"L. Giuggioli",
"G. Abramson",
"V. M. Kenkre",
"G. Suz\u00e1n",
"E. Marc\u00e9",
"T. L. Yates"
],
"categories": [
"q-bio.PE",
"q-bio.OT"
],
"journal_ref": "Bull. Math. Biol. 67, (2005) 1135-1149",
"title": "Diffusion and Home Range Parameters from Rodent Population Measurements in Panama",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/q-bio/0511025"
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