Phytoplankton competition for nutrients and light in a stratified lake: a mathematical model connecting epilimnion and hypolimnion (Q2022589)

Lake stratification is a common phenomenon. A mathematical model connecting epilimnion and hypolimnion, which is a hybrid system of two ordinary differential equations and two partial differential equations with nonlocal terms, is proposed to describe the competition of phytoplankton for nutrients and light in a stratified lake. The existence and stability of nonnegative steady-state solutions are completely characterized for all possible parameter ranges by means of stability analysis, bifurcation theory, and extensive simulations. The critical thresholds for settling speed of phytoplankton cells in the thermocline and the loss rate of phytoplankton are established, which determine the survival or extirpation of phytoplankton in epilimnion and hypolimnion. In particular, it is shown that in two extreme cases, the principle of competitive exclusion always holds in a stratified lake. The authors also considered the influence of environmental parameters on the vertical distribution and biomass density of phytoplankton via a systematic sensitivity analysis, and investigate their roles in phytoplankton blooms. These results can be used for the prediction of phytoplankton competition and blooms in a stratified lake. Compared with the literature [\textit{H. Wang} et al., SIAM J. Appl. Math. 68, No. 2, 503--522 (2007; Zbl 1133.92031)], in the present paper, the authors considered phytoplankton dynamics in the epilimnion and hypolimnion and the interaction between them, and conclude that phytoplankton in the hypolimnion can control phytoplankton biomass in the epilimnion by controlling nutrient transport. Hence, an interesting but challenging question is to study the relationship between phytoplankton and bacteria in a stratified lake.