A comparison of the ``reduced losses'' and ``increased production'' models for mussel bed dynamics (Q2230675)

This paper is devoted to understanding the pattern formation in ecosystem caused by feedback processes. For soften-mussel-beds, mathematical models have confirmed that both mechanisms of ``reduced losses'' and ``increased production'' can generate spatial patterns. A natural question is how to determine which mechanism is real driver of the observed pattern formation. To answer the question, firstly a model describing the ``increased production'' is simplified to a two-equation system by making a quasi-steady-state assumption and replacing the function reflecting the effect of accumulated sediment. Then this simplified model and the other one for ``reduced losses'' are non dimensionalised. Noticing the similarity between the resulting models, a hybrid model is introduced, where a parameter is included to control the relative importance of the two mechanisms. The existence of uniform steady states of the hybrid system is discussed. When a uniform steady state becomes unstable, the onset of pattering occurs. A central question addressed is how the mussel density in such patterns changes as the supply rate of algae is varied. It is found that the (average) mussel density in the patterns is greater than that in the steady state, and there is a gradual increase in the average difference in mussel density as the feedback mechanism gradually shifts from increased production to decreased losses. It is also found that the difference in resilience can indeed be attributed to the underlying pattern mechanism, rather than being a function of parameter values or other model details.