Lotka-Volterra equations

The Lotka-Volterra equations are mathematical models describing how two species—usually predators and prey—interact over time. The prey population grows naturally but decreases when predators hunt them. Conversely, the predator population depends on available prey: it grows when prey is abundant and declines when prey is scarce. These equations capture the cyclical dynamics often observed in nature, with predator and prey populations rising and falling in relatively predictable patterns. They help ecologists understand and predict the complex balance within ecosystems, illustrating how species influence each other's survival.