Age-size structure in populations with quiescence (Q1095843)

This paper is devoted to an age and size structured model of population dynamics in which individuals have the possibility of entering a quiescent phase. The model has the form \[ n_ t(t,a,x)+n_ a(t,a,x)+(g(a,x)n(t,a,x))_ x= \] \[ -\mu (a,x)n(t,a,x)-r_ 0(a,x)n(t,a,x)+r_ i(a,x)q(t,a,x), \] \[ n(t,0,x)=\iint_{\Omega}\beta (a,y,x)n(t,a,y)dady,\quad q_ t(t,a,x)+q_ a(t,a,x) \] \[ =-\nu (a,x)q(t,a,x)-r_ i(a,x)q(t,a,x)+r_ 0(a,x)n(t,a,x),\quad q(t,0,x)=0, \] together with initial conditions, where n(t,a,x) and q(t,a,x) are the densities with respect to age a and size x at time t for the active and quiescent populations, respectively, \(\mu\) (a,x) and \(\nu\) (a,x) are the mortality rates, \(r_ 0(a,x)\) and \(r_ i(a,x)\) are the transition rates, g(a,x) is the growth rate, \(\beta\) (a,y,x) is the fertility rate, and \(\Omega\) is the region of allowable age and size values. The problem is studied by means of linear semigroup theory. The semigroup T(t),t\(\geq 0\), associated with the solutions is shown to have the property of asynchronous exponential growth, that is, \(e^{-\lambda_ 1t}T(t)\to P_ 1\), where \(\lambda_ 1\) is the dominant eigenvalue of the infinitesimal generator and \(P_ 1\) is a one-dimensional projection. Some examples are given to illustrate the role played by quiescence relative to the extinction and survival of the population.