Population models in a periodically fluctuating environment

Summary We investigate the behavior of population models in the presence of a periodically fluctuating environment. We consider in particular single-species models and models of interspecific competition. It is shown that the fluctuations cause constant equilibrium states to be replaced by periodic equilibrium states, with a shift in the mean value relative to the constant-environment state. It is shown also that the locations of points of exchange of stability may be changed as a result of the fluctuations.