Dynamics for a nonlocal competition system with a free boundary

In this paper, we investigate a nonlocal reaction–diffusion competition model with a free boundary and discuss the long time behavior of species. The main objective is to understand the effect of the nonlocal term in the form of an integral convolution on the dynamics of competing species. Specially, for the weak competition case, when spreading occurs, we provide some sufficient conditions to prove that two competing species stabilize at a positive constant equilibrium state. Furthermore, for the case of successful spreading, we estimate the asymptotic spreading speed of the free boundary.     

Dynamics of a generalized Ricker–Beverton–Holt competition model subject to Allee effects

In this article, we propose and study a generalized Ricker–Beverton–Holt competition model subject to Allee effects to obtain insights on how the interplay of Allee effects and contest competition affects the persistence and the extinction of two competing species. By using the theory of monotone dynamics and the properties of critical curves for non-invertible maps, our analysis show that our model has relatively simple dynamics, i.e. almost every trajectory converges to a locally asymptotically stable equilibrium if the intensity of intra-specific competition intensity exceeds that of inter-specific competition. This equilibrium dynamics is also possible when the intensity of intra-specific competition intensity is less than that of inter-specific competition but under conditions that the maximum intrinsic growth rate of one species is not too large. The coexistence of two competing species occurs only if the system has four interior equilibria. We provide an approximation to the basins of the boundary attractors (i.e. the extinction of one or both species) where our results suggests that contest species are more prone to extinction than scramble ones are at low densities. In addition, in comparison to the dynamics of two species scramble competition models subject to Allee effects, our study suggests that (i) Both contest and scramble competition models can have only three boundary attractors without the coexistence equilibria, or four attractors among which only one is the persistent attractor, whereas scramble competition models may have the extinction of both species as its only attractor under certain conditions, i.e. the essential extinction of two species due to strong Allee effects; (ii) Scramble competition models like Ricker type models can have much more complicated dynamical structure of interior attractors than contest ones like Beverton–Holt type models have; and (iii) Scramble competition models like Ricker type competition models may be more likely to promote the coexistence of two species at low and high densities under certain conditions: At low densities, weak Allee effects decrease the fitness of resident species so that the other species is able to invade at its low densities; While at high densities, scramble competition can bring the current high population density to a lower population density but is above the Allee threshold in the next season, which may rescue a species that has essential extinction caused by strong Allee effects. Our results may have potential to be useful for conservation biology: For example, if one endangered species is facing essential extinction due to strong Allee effects, then we may rescue this species by bringing another competing species subject to scramble competition and Allee effects under certain conditions.     

Strong competition model with non-uniform dispersal in a heterogeneous environment

In this study, a strong competition model was considered between two species in a heterogeneous environment. For a system with two different constant diffusion rates for each competitor, the fast diffuser can be selected evolutionally under suitable assumptions if the competing interaction between the species is strong. We also claim that a strongly interacting competition leads to a more evolutionary selection than that with the same population dynamics if a species moves with a certain non-uniform dispersal. Furthermore, species with a certain non-uniform dispersal have a competitive advantage over linear random diffusers. In addition, a species with highly sensitive dispersal response to the environment may survive. These strongly competitive advantages were demonstrated by investigating the stability of semi-trivial solutions of the system with non-uniform dispersal and comparing it to the conditions of the model with constant diffusion.     

Sequential market entries and competition modelling in multi-innovation diffusions

The diffusion of innovations for simultaneous processes cannot take into account and properly explain systematic perturbations due to competition-substitution effects if they are examined one by one. A first aspect in simultaneous competing diffusions is the distinction between simultaneous market entries (synchronic competition) and sequential entries (diachronic competition). In the latter case, the beginning of competition may upset the first entrant’s diffusion. A second important aspect in multiple competition is represented by the choice to model the word-of-mouth effect either at the category level (balanced model) or at the brand level, separating the within-brand effect from the cross-brand one (unbalanced model). In this paper, balanced models are studied, and we propose a model that allows for a change in the parameter values of the first entrant as soon as the second one enters the market. The resulting differential system has a closed-form solution that enables, through sales data, an empirical validation of the assumptions underlying the model structure, improving the forecasting accuracy. An application to pharmaceutical drug competition is discussed.     

Multiple attractors in a Leslie–Gower competition system with Allee effects

We investigate asymptotic dynamics of the classical Leslie–Gower competition model when both competing populations are subject to Allee effects. The system may possess four interior steady states. It is proved that for certain parameter regimes both competing populations may either go extinct, coexist or one population drives the other population to extinction depending on initial conditions.     

A competition model for two resources in un-stirred chemostat

This paper studies a un-stirred chemostat with two species competing for two growth-limiting, non-reproducing resources. We determine the conditions for positive steady states of the two species, and then consider the global attractors of the model. In addition, we obtain the conditions under which the two populations uniformly strongly persist or go to extinction. Since the diffusion mechanism with homogeneous boundary conditions inhibits the growth of the organism species, it can be understood that the coexistence will be ensured by proportionally smaller diffusions for the two species. In particular, it is found that both instability and bi-stability subcases of the two semitrivial steady states are included in the coexistence region. The two populations will go to extinction when both possess large diffusion rates. If just one of them spreads faster with the other one diffusing slower, then the related semitrivial steady state will be globally attracting. The techniques used for the above results consist of the degree theory, the semigroup theory, and the maximum principle.     

Sharp estimates for the spreading speeds of the Lotka-Volterra diffusion system with strong competition

This paper is concerned with the classical two-species Lotka-Volterra diffusion system with strong competition. The sharp dynamical behavior of the solution is established in two different situations: either one species is an invasive one and the other is a native one or both are invasive species. Our results seem to be the first that provide a precise spreading speed and profile for such a strong competition system. Among other things, our analysis relies on the construction of new types of supersolution and subsolution, which are optimal in certain sense.     

Advection-mediated competition in general environments

We consider a reaction–diffusion–advection system of two competing species with one of the species dispersing by random diffusion as well as a biased movement upward along resource gradient, while the other species by random diffusion only. It has been shown that, under some non-degeneracy conditions on the environment function, the two species always coexist when the advection is strong. In this paper, we show that for general smooth environment function, in contrast to what is known, there can be competitive exclusion when the advection is strong, and, we give a sharp criterion for coexistence that includes all previously considered cases. Moreover, when the domain is one-dimensional, we derive in the strong advection limit a system of two equations defined on different domains. Uniqueness of steady states of this non-standard system is obtained when one of the diffusion rates is large.     

Equilibrium structures of two supply chains with price and displayed-quantity competition

This paper studies the equilibrium structure of two competing supply chains, each of which consists of one manufacturer and one retailer who faces the demand influenced by price and displayed quantity. Each chain has two structure options: integration or decentralization. Under linear demand, we present the optimal pricing/displayed quantity of all members in the two chains under possible structures: two integrated chains (II), two decentralized chains (DD), and one integrated chain and one decentralized chain (ID or DI). We then analyse the impact of the intensities of price and displayed-quantity competition on the equilibrium structure of two supply chains. The results show that both price and displayed-quantity competition intensities influence significantly the equilibrium structure. Moreover, under certain specific conditions, both price and displayed-quantity competition can have the two chains fall into the prisoner’s dilemma and play a game of chicken as well.     

A free boundary problem describing S–K–T competition ecological model with cross-diffusion

In this paper we investigate a free boundary problem describing S–K–T competition ecological model with two competing species and with cross-diffusion and self-diffusion in one space dimension, where one species is made up of two groups separated by a free boundary, and the other has a single group. The system under consideration is strongly coupled and the coefficients of the equations are allowed to be discontinuous. We first show the global existence and uniqueness of the solutions for the corresponding diffraction problem by approximation method, Galerkin method and Schauder fixed point theorem, and then prove the local existence of the solutions for the free boundary problem by Schauder fixed point theorem.     

Dynamic Analysis of an Impulsive Chemostat Model with Microbial Competition and Nonlinear Perturbation

In this paper, we propose an impulsive chemostat model with microbial competition and nonlinear perturbation. First, thresholds for the extinction of both microoganisms are given. Second, we investigate the persistence in mean and boundedness of the chemostat system by constructing Lyapunov function. Moreover, we obtain the sufficient condition for the existence of an ergodic stationary distribution of the system. At last, numerical simulations are presented, and the results show that the competition between two species tends to make one species disappear from their common habitat, especially when the competition is concentrated in a single resource.     

Open problems in some competition models

We present open problems and conjectures for some two-dimensional competition models, namely the logistic competition model and a Ricker-type competition model.     

Hopf bifurcation in time-delayed Lotka–Volterra competition systems with advection

In this paper, we study time-delayed reaction–diffusion systems with advection subject to Lotka–Volterra competition dynamics over one-dimensional domains. These systems model the population dynamics of two groups of competing species, with one dispersing randomly and the other a combination of random and biased dispersal (to avoid competition). We show that time-delay(s) in the interspecific competition mechanism can induce instability of the homogeneous equilibrium to the reaction–advection–diffusion systems, and further promote the appearance of time-oscillating spatially inhomogeneous distributions of the species. Our results indicate that these time-delayed systems (both single and double time-delays) can be used to model the well-observed time-periodic distributions of interacting species in natural fields, compared to the systems without time-delay(s).     

Weak Allee effects and species coexistence

In this article, we study the population dynamics of a two-species discrete-time competition model where each species suffers from either predator saturation induced Allee effects and/or mate limitation induced Allee effects. We focus on the following two possible outcomes of the competition: 1. one species goes to extinction; 2. the system is permanent. Our results indicate that, even if one species’ intra-specific competition is less than its inter-specific competition, weak Allee effects induced by predation saturation can promote coexistence of the two competing species. This is supported by the outcome of two-species competition models without Allee effects. Also, we discuss our results and future work on multiple attractors in competition models with Allee effects.     

Contracting with demand uncertainty under supply chain competition

We examine supply chain contracts for two competing supply chains selling a substitutable product, each consisting of one manufacturer and one retailer. Both manufacturers are Stackelberg leaders and the retailers are followers. Manufacturers in two competing supply chains may choose different contracts, either a wholesale price contract in which the retailer??s demand forecasting information is not shared, or a revenue-sharing contract in which the retailer??s demand forecasting information is shared. Under supply chain competition and demand uncertainty, we identify which contract is more advantageous for each supply chain, and under what circumstances.     

Inventory competition for newsvendors under the objective of profit satisficing

Inventory competition for newsvendors (NVs) has been studied extensively under the objective of expected profit maximization which is based on risk neutrality. In this paper, we study this classic problem under the objective of profit satisficing which is based on downside-risk aversion. Consistent with prior literature, we consider two possible scenarios. In the first scenario, each NV’s demand depends on the stocking levels of all NVs other than herself. In this scenario, we show that there is a unique Nash equilibrium where all NVs optimally order as if they were independent. In the second scenario, each NV’s demand depends on the stocking levels of all NVs including herself. We prove the existence of Nash equilibrium for both additive and multiplicative forms of demands. As a special case, we also study symmetrical NVs under the proportional allocation model. We show that at equilibrium, if the number of NVs exceeds a threshold, the market becomes highly competitive.     

A discrete hierarchical model of intra-specific competition

A discrete hierarchical model with either age, size, or stage structure is derived. The resulting scalar equation for total population level is then used to study contest and scramble intra-specific competition. It is shown how equilibrium levels and resilience are related for the two different competition situations. In particular, scramble competition yields a higher population level while contest competition is more resilient if the uptake rate as a function of resource density is concave down. The conclusions are reversed if the uptake rate is concave up.     

Spatial Dynamics of a Lattice Lotka-Volterra Competition Model with a Shifting Habitat

In this paper, we concern with the spatial dynamics of the lattice Lotka-Volterra competition system in a shifting habitat. We study the impact of the environmental deterioration rate on the population density under the strong competition condition. Our results show that if the environment deteriorates rapidly, both species will become extinct. However, when the environmental degradation rate is not so fast, the species with slow diffusion will go extinct, while those with fast diffusion will survive. The extinction of species with slow diffusion can be divided into two situations: one is the extinction caused by environmental deterioration faster than its own diffusion speed, the other is the extinction caused by slow diffusion speed under the influence of strong competition.     

Existence and stability of coexistence states in a competition unstirred chemostat

In this paper, we consider the two similar competing species in a competition unstirred chemostat model with diffusion. The two competing species are assumed to be identical except for their maximal growth rates. In particular, we study the existence and stability of the coexistence states, and the semi-trivial equilibria or the unique coexistence state is the global attractor can be established under some suitable conditions. Our mathematical approach is based on Lyapunov–Schmidt reduction, the implicit function theory and spectral theory.