Perturbations of positive semigroups and applications to population genetics (Q1822333)

For a linear (unbounded) operator \(A=T-U\) on a Banach lattice we derive conditions ensuring the existence of an isolated eigenvalue at the bottom of \(\sigma\) (A) with a positive eigenfunction. T is a closed, linear operator with dense domain, such that -T generates a positive semigroup of contractions and U is positive, bounded and satisfies certain compactness conditions. To this aim the family of positive operators \(K_{\alpha}=U(T+\alpha)^{-1}\) Re \(\alpha\) \(>0\) and their spectral radii r(\(\alpha)\) are studied. It is shown that for the existence of an eigenvalue of A with the above mentioned properties it is sufficient that some \(\alpha >0\) exists with \(r(\alpha)>1\). This is equivalent to the condition \(S(-T+U)>S(-T)\), where \(s(-T+U)\) and s(-T) denote the spectral bounds of \(-T+U\) and -T, respectively. If U is irreducible the eigenspace is one-dimensional and spanned by a strictly positive eigenvector. This generalize results that have been obtained by \textit{G. Greiner} [Math. Z. 177, 401-423 (1981; Zbl 0461.47016); Lect. Notes Math. 1076, 86-100 (1984; Zbl 0568.47031)]. This result is applied to a differential equation on \(L^ p\) arising from population genetics that describes the evolution of types in a population under the action of selection and mutation. In this case, where T is a multiplication operator and U a kernel operator, the condition \(r(\alpha)>1\) turns out to be very useful to prove existence and uniqueness of a stationary solution. Also its global stability is shown, using semigroup theory. These results provide far reaching generalizations of results on various selection-mutation models obtained earlier by \textit{P. A. P. Moran} [Math. Proc. Cambridge Philos. Soc. 80, 331-336 (1976; Zbl 0336.92011)], \textit{J. F. C. Kingman} [Math. Proc. Cambridge Philos. Soc. 81, 443-453 (1977; Zbl 0365.92024); J. Appl. Prob. 15, 1-12 (1978; Zbl 0382.92003)] and \textit{R. Bürger} [J. Math. Biol. 24, 341-351 (1986)] and others.