Figure 3.

(a) Completely synchronous resources have wildly fluctuating consumer densities. (b) The completely synchronous C–R interactions with flux rates (arrows) in space at a given time when R's are relatively high ((i) patch 1 and (ii) patch 2). Interactions are symmetric in space such that there are equal numbers of consumers and resources as well as identical consumption rates in both patches. (c) Completely asynchronous resource dynamics result in much more bounded consumer fluctuations. (d) Consumer resource interaction in each patch at a given time (relatively high resource densities in (i) patch 1). Interactions are asymmetric in space such that (i) patch 1 is a two-trophic-level system and (ii) patch 2 more closely resembles a one-trophic-level system. Parameters: a=1.0; e=1.0; m=0.50; and ω=0.5.