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Local equations for the generalized Lotka-Volterra model on sparse asymmetric graphs
by David Machado Pérez, Pietro Valigi, Tommaso Tonolo, and Maria Chiara Angelini
Submission summary
| Authors (as registered SciPost users): | David Machado Pérez |
| Submission information | |
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| Preprint Link: | scipost_202601_00031v1 (pdf) |
| Code repository: | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17612770 |
| Data repository: | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17612770 |
| Date submitted: | Jan. 15, 2026, 3:47 p.m. |
| Submitted by: | David Machado Pérez |
| Submitted to: | SciPost Physics |
| Ontological classification | |
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| Academic field: | Physics |
| Specialties: |
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| Approaches: | Theoretical, Computational |
Abstract
Real ecosystems are characterized by sparse and asymmetric interactions, posing a major challenge to theoretical analysis. We introduce a new method to study the generalized Lotka-Volterra model with stochastic dynamics on sparse graphs. By deriving local Fokker-Planck equations and employing a mean-field closure, we can efficiently compute stationary states for both symmetric and asymmetric interactions. We validate our approach by comparing the results with the direct integration of the dynamical equations and by reproducing known results and, for the first time, we map the phase diagram for sparse asymmetric networks. Our framework provides a versatile tool for exploring stability in realistic ecological communities and can be generalized to applications in different contexts, such as economics and evolutionary game theory.
Author indications on fulfilling journal expectations
- Provide a novel and synergetic link between different research areas.
- Open a new pathway in an existing or a new research direction, with clear potential for multi-pronged follow-up work
- Detail a groundbreaking theoretical/experimental/computational discovery
- Present a breakthrough on a previously-identified and long-standing research stumbling block