Abstract:
Demographic and environmental heterogeneities are prevalent across many natural systems. Earlier studies on
metapopulation models have mostly considered heterogeneities either in the demographic parameters or in the
interaction strength and topology between the spatially separated patches. In contrast, here we study the dynamics
of a metapopulation model where each of the uncoupled patches has different periods of oscillations (period
mismatch). We show different synchronization dynamics governed by both period mismatch and dispersal in
neighboring patches. Indeed, we find both appearance and disappearance of phase synchronization, quasiperiodic
oscillations, and period doubling of limit cycle. We also quantify the effect of seasonal variation (entrainment) and
dispersal on species synchrony using phase-response curve and a synchrony measure, which thereof identify the
influence of stochasticity on species persistence through trade-off mechanisms. Our results show that trade-offs
among period mismatch, dispersal, and external force can drive entrained oscillations as well as asynchronous
population dynamics that structure ecological communities.
