Periodic solutions for nonlinear population dynamics models with age-dependence and spatial structure (Q1327075)

We study mathematical models of population dynamics problems with age as well as spatial structure. The dynamics of the population are described by a nonnegative function \(u= u(x, t, a)\), which is the population density of age \(a>0\) at time \(t>0\) and at position \(x\in \Omega\), \(\Omega\) being a bounded domain in \(\mathbb{R}^N\) \((N\geq 1)\). Following \textit{M. E. Gurtin} and \textit{R. C. MacCamy} [Arch. Rat. Mech. Anal. 54, 281-300 (1974; Zbl 0286.92005)], we assume that the death rate \(\mu\geq 0\) and the rate of fertility \(\beta\geq 0\) depend on the total size of the population, that is \[ \mu= \mu (P(x, t), x, t, a), \qquad \beta= \beta (P(x, t), x, t, a), \tag{1} \] \[ P(x,t)= \int^\infty_0 u(x, t, a)da. \tag{2} \] Also we assume that the flux of the population is proportional to the spatial gradient of the density and is given by \(k \nabla_x u\), \(k\) being a positive constant. Finally, the boundary \(\partial \Omega\) of the domain \(\Omega\) is supposed to be extremely inhospitable. Then, the system of equations governing the dynamics of the population is given as \[ \partial_t u+\partial_a u-k \Delta_x u+ \mu(P(x, t), x, t,a)u= f(x, t, a), \quad x\in \Omega,\;t>0,\;a>0, \tag{3} \] \[ u(x, t, a)=0, \qquad x\in \partial \Omega,\;t>0,\;a>0, \tag{4} \] \[ u(x, t,0)= \int^\infty_0 \beta (P(x, t), x,t, a)u (x, t, a)da, \quad x\in \Omega,\;t>0, \tag{5} \] where \(\partial_t= \partial/ \partial t\), \(\partial_a= \partial/ \partial a\), \(\Delta_x= \sum^N_{j=1} \partial^2/ \partial^2_j\), and \(f= f(x, t, a)\geq 0\) refers to an external supply of individuals. The existence and uniqueness of a solution of this problem with a given initial distribution \[ u(x, 0, a)= u_0 (x, a), \qquad x\in \Omega, \;a>0, \] has already been proved. This paper is a continuation of our previous one, J. Math. Biol. 29, No. 4, 363-378 (1991; Zbl 0718.92018), where linear models were studied, and generalizes the results announced in C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. I 313, No. 6. 387-390 (1991; Zbl 0732.92023). Our purpose is to study the above problem (1)--(5) when we have an external supply \(f(x, t, a)\) and the functions \(\mu\) and \(\beta\) have a common period \(T>0\) in time. We give conditions which assure existence, non-existence, uniqueness, and regularity of a \(T\)-periodic solution. In contrast to the case of linear models, nonlinear models may admit more than one \(T\)-periodic solution.