Open AccessMechanistically derived spatially heterogeneous producer-grazer model subject to stoichiometric constraints
Author(s) -
Masud Rana,
Chandani Dissanayake,
Lourdes Juan,
Kevin R. Long,
Angela Peace
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
mathematical biosciences and engineering
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.451
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1551-0018
pISSN - 1547-1063
DOI - 10.3934/mbe.2019012
Subject(s) - bistability , extinction (optical mineralogy) , environmental science , ecosystem , spatial heterogeneity , phosphorus , population , limit (mathematics) , ecological stoichiometry , ecosystem model , ecology , dynamics (music) , biological system , statistical physics , atmospheric sciences , mathematics , physics , chemistry , biology , mineralogy , mathematical analysis , demography , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , sociology , acoustics
Known stoichiometric models of a two species producer-grazer ecosystem have either neglected spatial dynamics or failed to track free phosphorus in the media. In this paper we present a spatially heterogeneous model that tracks phosphorus content in the producer and free phosphorus in the media. We simulate our model numerically under various environmental conditions. Multiple equilibria, with bistability and deterministic extinction of the grazer, are possible here. In conditions that had been previously studied without tracking free phosphorus we nd cases where qualitatively different behavior is observed. In particular under certain environmental conditions previous models predict stable equilibria where our model predicts stable limit cycles near the surface. Oscillatory dynamics can have consequences on the population densities, which may spend some time at low values throughout the cycles where they are in danger of stochastic extinction.