Analysis of ratio-dependent food chain model (Q2642131)

Food-chain models [see \textit{H. I. Freedman} and \textit{P. Waltman}, Math. Biosci. 33, No. 3--4, 257--276 (1977; Zbl 0363.92022)] with ratio-dependent response are studied. The study of this paper is focused on the stability and instability of spatially constant equilibria and formation of spatially non-constant patterns. First, the authors deal with the stability of non-negative equilibria for the parabolic system under homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions: \(u_t-D_1\Delta u=u(1-u-\frac{c_1v}{u+v})\), \(v_t-D_2\Delta v=v(\frac{m_1u}{u+v}- d_1-\frac{c_2w}{v+w})\), \(w_t-D_3\Delta w=w(\frac{m_2v}{v+w}-d_2)\) in \((0,+\infty)\times\Omega\); \(\partial u/\partial n=\partial v/\partial n=\partial w/\partial n=0\) on \((0,+\infty)\times \partial\Omega\); \(u(0,x)=u_0(x)\), \(v(0,x)=v_0(x)\), \(w(0,x)=w_0(x)\) in \(\Omega\). Then, the existence of non-constant positive steady states of the above system is investigated by means of the effect on diffusions. The employed methods are a comparison principle for parabolic problems and the Leray-Schauder theorem. The results obtained are analyzed in terms of biological interpretations.