Population abundance of two-patch competitive systems with asymmetric dispersal

The effect of dispersal on asymptotic total population size in discrete- and continuous-time two-patch models

Many populations occupy spatially fragmented landscapes. How dispersal affects the asymptotic total population size is a key question for conservation management and the design of ecological corridors. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of two-patch models with symmetric dispersal and two standard density-dependent population growth functions, one in discrete and one in continuous time. A complete analysis of the discrete-time model reveals four response scenarios of the asymptotic total population size to increasing dispersal rate: (1) monotonically beneficial, (2) unimodally beneficial, (3) beneficial turning detrimental, and (4) monotonically detrimental. The same response scenarios exist for the continuous-time model, and we show that the parameter conditions are analogous between the discrete- and continuous-time setting. A detailed biological interpretation offers insight into the mechanisms underlying the response scenarios that thus improve our general understanding how potential conservation efforts affect population size.

Impact of State-Dependent Dispersal on Disease Prevalence

Based on a susceptible-infected-susceptible patch model, we study the influence of dispersal on the disease prevalence of an individual patch and all patches at the endemic equilibrium. Specifically, we estimate the disease prevalence of each patch and obtain a weak order-preserving result that correlated the patch reproduction number with the patch disease prevalence. Then we assume that dispersal rates of the susceptible and infected populations are proportional and derive the overall disease prevalence, or equivalently, the total infection size at no dispersal or infinite dispersal as well as the right derivative of the total infection size at no dispersal. Furthermore, for the two-patch submodel, two complete classifications of the model parameter space are given: one addressing when dispersal leads to higher or lower overall disease prevalence than no dispersal, and the other concerning how the overall disease prevalence varies with dispersal rate. Numerical simulations are performed to further investigate the effect of movement on disease prevalence.

Effects of Prey's Diffusion on Predator-Prey Systems with Two Patches

This paper considers predator-prey systems in which the prey can move between source and sink patches. First, we give a complete analysis on global dynamics of the model. Then, we show that when diffusion from the source to sink is not large, the species would coexist at a steady state; when the diffusion is large, the predator goes to extinction, while the prey persists in both patches at a steady state; when the diffusion is extremely large, both species go to extinction. It is derived that diffusion in the system could lead to results reversing those without diffusion. That is, diffusion could change species' coexistence if non-diffusing, to extinction of the predator, and even to extinction of both species. Furthermore, we show that intermediate diffusion to the sink could make the prey reach total abundance higher than if non-diffusing, larger or smaller diffusion rates are not favorable. The total abundance, as a function of diffusion rates, can be both hump-shaped and bowl-shaped, which extends previous theory. A novel finding of this work is that there exist diffusion scenarios which could drive the predator into extinction and make the prey reach the maximal abundance. Diffusion from the sink to source and asymmetry in diffusion could also lead to results reversing those without diffusion. Meanwhile, diffusion always leads to reduction of the predator's density. The results are biologically important in protection of endangered species.