Extinction and persistence of species in discrete competitive systems with a safe refuge (Q1125848)

We consider a two species discrete competitive system where one of the species has a spatial refuge from competition. In this system, the two species, species 1 and 2, compete in patch A with species 2 allowed to diffuse between patches A and B. Analytic criteria for the persistence or extinction of each species individually are obtained. In addition, we exhibit numerical computations of stable equilibria with both species present. Using precise dominance definitions we obtain various exclusion principles. These dominance definitions compare a linear combination of the growth rates of species 2 in patches A and B to the growth rate of species 1 in patch A raised to a positive power. We obtain persistence results when the growth rates in patch A are functions of the total population of the species in that patch. Species 1 persists provided its carrying capacity is sufficiently large. Species 2 will persist if its carrying capacities in both patches A and B are sufficiently large. Numerical explorations are used to demonstrate stable coexistence of species with diffusion, where there is extinction of species without diffusion. In particular, we obtain that providing a safe refuge for an endangered species could save it from extinction. In fact, a stable positive equilibrium population is achieved. A dominant species with a safe refuge could coexist with a sedentary weak spezies. This stable coexistence occurs if the carrying capacity of the dominant species in patch A is significantly bigger than its carrying capacity in the refuge, patch B. In this situation, a large percentage of its population in patch A diffuses to the refuge. This ultimately levels the competition in patch A and the stable coexistence of the two competitors occurs.