Analogies between the virial theorem and the Price equation.

Felce, Catherine; Liorsdóttir, Steinunn; Pachter, Lior · Phys Rev E · 2025

other · Level V

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Abstract

We observe that the time-averaged continuous Price equation is identical to the positive momentum virial theorem, and we discuss the applications and implications of this connection. We also introduce ecological models using a maternal effect, which can describe arbitrary population size cycles and trait evolution across spatially separated populations. The virial theorem sheds light on the time-averaged behavior of these models.