A pivotal eigenvalue problem in river ecology (Q2347815)

The paper considers a problem of longitudinal distribution of algae abundance in a riverine reservoir under several types of flows. The formulated problem turns out to be a linear parabolic equation and a coupled ordinary differential equation. The authors establish the existence and uniqueness of the principal eigenvalue for the associated eigenvalue problem. They adopt a direct approach to the problem from an elliptic perspective instead of a parabolic one. Furthermore, the qualitative dependence of the principal eigenvalue with respect to the several parameters involved in the system is analyzed. The authors give an interesting application to the problem of flowing habitats with a hydraulic storage zone and light limitation. The reviewer would like to comment that the paper is nicely written and mathematically rigorous.