Spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of organisms and their resources is likely to lead to temporal heterogeneity in access to resources for simple aquatic organisms like phytoplankton. The role of temporal heterogeneity as a possible structuring force for simple communities is investigated with a stochastic model of interacting populations. Rates of nutrient supply fluctuate with both deterministic and stochastic components. Demographic stochasticity is also incorporated into a modified chemostat model. Both environmental and demographic stochasticity are important model components for this result.
Stochasticity has a larger effect in nutrient-poor environments.
The frequency at which pulses in nutrients occurs also affects the range over which coexistence occurs and affects the life history strategies stabilized. Rare events associated with stochasticity in resource supply further contribute coexistence of competing species.