We propose a stochastic lattice gas model to describe the dynamics of two animal species populations, one being a predator and the other a prey. This model comprehends the mechanisms of the Lotka-Volterra model. Our analysis was performed by using a dynamical mean-field approximation and computer simulations. Our results show that the system exhibits an oscillatory behavior of the population densities of prey and predators. For the sets of parameters used in our computer simulations, these oscillations occur at a local level. Mean-field results predict synchronized collective oscillations.

• Received 24 November 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.49.5073