Evolutionary dynamics in a varying environment: Continuous versus discrete noise

Environmental variations can significantly influence how populations compete for resources, and hence shape their evolution. Here, we study population dynamics subject to a fluctuating environment modeled by varying carrying capacity changing continuously in time according either binary random switches, or being driven noise of continuous range. We consider prototypical example two competing strains, one growing slightly slower than the other, also scenario where slow strain is public goods producer. By systematically comparing effect binary- versus continuously-varying environment, different statistics (mean, variance) size fixation properties. show that probability be greatly enhanced compared even when first moments coincide.