Eur. Phys. J. B 7, 501-504 (1999)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s100510050637

Self-organisation of female menopause in populations with child-care and reproductive risk

¹ Laboratoire de Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, ESPCI, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
² Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Avenida Litorânea, s/n, 24210-340 Niterói, RJ, Brazil

Received: 12 September 1998
Accepted: 14 September 1998
Published online: 15 February 1999

Abstract

In this paper, by using a computer model for the evolution of age-structured populations, we show that in a sexual population subject to: (i) senescence, (ii) age-increasing reproductive risks, and (iii) long juvenile dependence, menopause arises spontaneously, in order to guarantee the survival of the offspring.