Front propagation in population dynamics with dispersive variability and delayed growth

On the basis of the Cook model, we propose a delayed-growth reaction-diffusion model with an age-dependent disperser-nondisperser transition. We compare the speed of migration fronts between our model and the hyperbolic generalization of the Cook model. In particular, we study for both models the dependence of the migratory fronts speed on the shape of probability distribution function of adult ages for the Neolithic transition in Europe. The migratory fronts speed in both models behaves in a very similar qualitative way, exhibiting both a good agreement with observational data. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.