Diffusion Model for Insect Dispersal

Abstract

The physical model for the self-diffusion of a gaseous material is applied to the analysis of insect dispersal data. Because this model is derived from well-understood mathematical principles, the model provides biological information not available from other models. In particular, through application of the model in analyzing dispersal data, one can obtain an independent estimate of mortality in the field. The model also provides some behavioral data. Examples of the application of the model to data sets from the literature are given.