Fluid limit for the Poisson encounter-mating model

Abstract

Stochastic encounter-mating (SEM) models describe monogamous permanent pair formation in finite zoological populations of multitype females and males. In this article, we study SEM with Poisson firing times. First, we prove that the model enjoys a fluid limit as the population size diverges, i.e., the stochastic dynamics converges to a deterministic system governed by coupled ODEs. Then, we convert these ODEs to the well-known Lotka-Volterra and replicator equations from population dynamics. Next, under the so-called fine balance condition which characterizes panmixia, we solve the corresponding replicator equations and give an exact expression for the fluid limit. Finally, we consider the case with two types of females and males. Without the fine balance assumption, but under certain symmetry conditions, we give an explicit formula for the limiting mating pattern, and then use it to characterize assortative mating.