Competition of Two Host Species for a Single-Limited Resource Mediated by Parasites Sze-Bi Hsu Department of Mathematics, National Tsing-Hua University Hsinchu, Taiwan & I-Fan Sun Department of Life Science and Center of Trophical Ecology and Biodiversity Tung-Hai University Abstract: In this paper we consider a mathematical model of two host species competing for a single-limited resource mediated by parasites. Each host population is divided into susceptible and infective population. We assume that species 1 which has the smallest break-even concentration, outcompetes species 2 when there is no parasite. We analyze the model by finding the conditions for the existence of various equilibria and doing their stability analysis. The bifurcation diagram shows that species 1 still outcompetes species 2 when the contact rate 1 of the species 1 is small regardless of the contact rate 2 of the species 2. However if 1 is large enough, both of species 1 and species 2 coexist either in the form of equilibrium or in periodic oscillation.. Key words: multi-host, mathematical model, parasite, competition, resource. INTRODUCTION In ecology, ecologists are interested in understanding how and to what extent, interspecific interactions influence community structure, species coexistence and biodiversity. In the past two decades, people investigate the potential importance of parasites and pathogens in determining the outcomes trophic interaction and community process. In the paper (Hatch & et. 2006 ) the authors give a review about the recent research on how parasites influence competitive and predatory interaction between the species they infect. In this paper we shall investigate a mathematical model of two host species competing for a single-limit resource mediated by parasites. Especially we focus on the question: can infection produces coexistence of species. When there is no infection mediated by parasites, it is a well-known fact that only the species with the smallest break-even concentration survives (Hsu 1978, Herbert et. 1956, Powell 1958, Hsu et 1977, Smith & Waltman 1994). With the infection by parasites we show that it is possible to have coexistence of two species if the contact rate 1 of surviving species is large enough. We shall find conditions for the existence of various equilibria and do their stability analysis. A bifurcation diagram is presented with contact rates 1 , 2 as two bifurcation parameters. We also present a bifurcation diagram by using input concentration R (0) of the nutrient as a bifurcation parameter. The model The model of two hosts competing for a single-limited resource mediated by parasites leads to the differential equations dR 1 m1R 1 m2 R ( R ( 0) R) D ( S1 I1 ) (S2 I 2 ) dt y1 a1 R y2 a2 R dS1 m1R d1 S1 1I1S1 1I1 dt a1 R dI1 1I1S1 (d1 1 1 ) I1 dt dS2 m2 R d 2 S 2 2 I 2 S 2 2 I 2 dt a2 R (1) dI 2 2 I 2 S 2 (d 2 2 2 ) I 2 dt R ( 0) 0 , S1 (0) 0 , I1 (0) 0 , S2 (0) 0 , I 2 (0) 0 Here we assume that each host population is divided into susceptible and infectious hosts; these are designated S, I. R is the concentration of resource. The rest of the model’s parameters are defined in table 1. Table 1 Parameter (0) R D yi mi ai di i i Definition of parameters used in the model Definition input concentration of nutrient R dilution rate yield constant of i-th host maximum growth rate of i-th host half-saturation constant for i-th host death rate of i-th host per capita additional mortality of i-th host when infected with parasite per capita rate of recovery of i-th host from infection Figure 1 When there is no parasites, the infective population I1 (t ) , I 2 (t ) satisfy I1 (t ) 0 , I 2 (t ) 0 . Then the system (1) becomes Parasite Host 1 S 1 , I 1 Host 2 S 2 , I 2 nutrient R Figure 1 R' ( R (0) R) D 1 m1R 1 m2 R S1 S2 y1 a1 R y 2 a2 R mR S1 ' 1 d1 S1 a1 R mR S 2 ' 2 d 2 S 2 a2 R (2) R (0) 0, S1 (0) 0, S 2 (0) 0 If the maximal growth rate mi is less than or equal to the death rate di of the i-th host, then Si (t ) 0 as t , i.e. the i-th host cannot survive. Assume the break-even concentration of the i-th host i ai 0 , i 1,2 . (mi / di ) 1 If the break-even concentration i is greater than the input concentration R ( 0) then the i-th host species goes to extinction due to the fact that input concentration R ( 0) is too small to support the survival of i-th host species Si (Hsu 1978, Smith and Waltman 1994). Thereafter we assume that (H) 0 1 2 R( 0) Under assumption (H), we conclude that 1st host species S1 outcompetes the 2nd host species S 2 (Hsu 1978, Smith and Waltman 1994) and the solutions R (t ) , S1 (t ) , S2 (t ) satisfy lim R(t ) 1 t lim S1 (t ) S1* t ( R ( 0) 1 ) Dy1 d1 lim S 2 (t ) 0 t Equilibria and Their Stability Analysis of (1): In the followings, we state the results for the existence of equilibria and their stability analysis. The proofs are deferred to Appendix. Under the assumption (H), the equilibrium E1 (1 , S1 ,0,0,0) of system (1) always exists. The equilibrium E1 is locally asymptotically stable if 1S1 (d1 1 1 ) 0 (3) 1S1 (d1 1 1 ) 0 (4) If then E1 is unstable. If the instability condition (4) holds then the equilibrium E1I1 ( Rˆ1 , Sˆ1 , Iˆ1 ,0,0) exists, where R̂1 , Ŝ1 , Iˆ1 satisfy d 1 1 Sˆ1 1 0 (5) 1 m1 Rˆ1 d1 Sˆ1 (d1 1 ) Iˆ1 0 ˆ a1 R1 ( Rˆ1 1 ) m1Rˆ1 1 1 m1Rˆ1 a1 Rˆ1 ˆ ( R ( 0) Rˆ1 ) D S1 y1 a1 Rˆ1 d1 1 (6) (7) It can be proved that if E1I 1 is locally asymptotically stable then Rˆ1 2 (8) We note that under condition (8), E1I 1 may be a stable or an unstable equilibrium. If Rˆ1 2 (9) then E1I 1 is unstable. It can be proved that if the instability condition (9) holds then the equilibrium ~ ~ ~ E1I1 2 (2 , S1 , I1 , S2 ,0) exists, where ~ d S1 Sˆ1 1 1 1 (10) ~ 1 m12 d1 S1 0 d1 1 a1 2 (11) 1 ~ ~ and S 2 , I 1 satisfy ~ I1 m12 1 ~ y 1 m ~ a 2 0 S 2 2 ( R ( 0 ) 2 ) D 1 2 S1 1 d2 y1 a1 2 d1 1 (12) If E1I1 2 is locally asymptotically stable then ~ 2 S 2 (d 2 2 2 ) 0 (13) We note that under condition (13), E1I1 2 may be a stable or an unstable equilibrium. If ~ 2 S 2 (d 2 2 2 ) 0 (14) then E1I1 2 is unstable. It can be shown that if the instability condition (14) holds then the equilibrium E1I1 2 I 2 ( R , S1, I1, S2 , I 2 ) exists where d S1 Sˆ1 1 1 1 (15) d 2 2 S 2 Sˆ2 2 (16) 1 2 I1 1 m1R d1 0 d1 1 a1 R I2 1 m2 R d 2 0 d 2 2 a2 R ( R 1 ) ( R 2 ) (17) (18) R satisfies m1R m2 R 1 2 1 m1R a R 1 m2 R S a2 R ( R ( 0) R ) D S1 1 2 y1 a1 R d1 1 y2 a2 R d 2 2 (19) It is difficult to determine the local stability of E1I1 2 I 2 . We verify it by extensive numerical simulation. We conjecture that Hopf bifurcation may occurs and there exists periodic solutions in some parameter range. Bifurcation Analysis: The equilibrium E1 (1 , S1 ,0,0,0) is locally stable if (3) holds. We rewrite (3) as (d )d 1 ˆ1 1 ( 0 ) 1 1 1 ( R 1 ) Dy1 (20) When 1 ̂1 , the equilibrium E1 is unstable and the equilibrium E1I1 ( Rˆ1 , Sˆ1 , Iˆ1 ,0,0) exists. If E1I1 is locally stable then (8) holds. However, if (8) holds then E1I1 may be locally stable or unstable. It can be shown in the Appendix that (8) can be rewritten as m12 1 ~ 1 m12 a1 2 d1 1 1 1 1 y1 a1 2 d1 1 ( R ( 0) 2 ) D (21) ~ and ˆ1 1 . ~ If the instability condition for E1I1 1 1 holds, then the equilibrium E1I1 is unstable and the ~ ~ ~ equilibrium E1I1 2 (2 , S1 , I1 , S2 ,0) exists. If E1I1 2 is locally stable then (13) holds. However if (13) holds then the equilibrium E1I1 2 may be locally stable or unstable. It can be shown in the Appendix that (13) can be rewritten as 2 A1 A A2 3 1 (22) where A1 d2 (d 2 2 2 ) y2 (23) A2 ( R( 0) 2 ) D A3 (24) 1 m12 d1 1 1 m12 1 y1 a1 2 1 d1 a1 2 We note that the vertical asymptote of the curve 2 If the instability condition for E1I1 2 2 A1 A A2 3 1 A1 A A2 3 1 is 1 (25) A3 ~ 1 . A2 holds then the equilibrium E1I1 2 I 2 ( R , S1, I1, S2 , I 2 ) exists. It is difficult to prove the local stability of E1I1 2 I 2 analytically. In the Figure 2, using 1 , 2 as bifurcation parameters, we plot a bifurcation diagram. It shows that the Hopf bifurcation occurs and there are periodic oscillation for some parameter ranges. Figure 2 In region I, the equilibrium E1 is locally stable. In region II, the equilibrium E1I 1 exists, E1 is unstable. In region III, the equilibrium E1I1 2 exists, E1 , E1I 1 are unstable. In region IV, the equilibrium E1I 1 2 I 2 exists, E1 , E1I 1 , E1I1 2 are unstable. Figure 3 In Figure 3 our numerical simulation study shows there is a Hopf bifurcation curve H in the region IV. For (1 , 2 ) inside the curve H, the region V, E1I 1 2 I 2 is unstable and periodic oscillation occur (See Figure 4). R vs T S1 vs T S2 vs T I2 vs T I1 vs T R ( 0) = 10 = 0.4 D m1 1 m2 3 a1 1 a2 2 d1 0.5 d2 2 1 0.5 2 0.4 1 0.1 2 0.001 y1 4 y2 2 Figure 4 The time series for 1 60, 2 20 . Under the basic assumption (H), species 1 outcompetes species 2 when there is no infection by the parasites. When the contact rate 1 satisfies 0 1 ˆ1 regardless of magnitudes of the species 2’s contact rate 2 , the species 1 still outcompetes the species 2 and there is no infection ~ population of species 1. If we increase 1 such that ˆ1 1 1 , then regardless of the magnitudes of 2 species 1 still outcompetes species 2, but there is some infective population for ~ the species 1 in this case. For 1 1 , species 1 and species 2 coexist. For the parameters 1 , 2 if the point 1 , 2 is under the curve 2 f ( 1 ) A1 ( A2 A3 1 in the 1 2 plane, then species ) 1 which has both susceptible and infective population, coexists with species 2 which has only susceptible population. If 1 , 2 is above the curve 2 f (1 ) in the 1 2 plane then species 1 and species 2 both with infective population coexists in the steady state . For 1 , 2 in the region V, species 1 and species 2 both with infective population coexist in the form of periodic oscillation. If we vary the input concentration R ( 0) and fix the other parameters then from (20), (21), (22) it follows that (d )d 1 ˆ1 R ( 0) 1 1 1 1 1 Rˆ ( 0) . Dy11 ~ 1 1 R ( 0) 2 m12 1 (d ) m12 a1 2 ~ ( 0) R 2 1 1 1 Dy11 a1 2 d1 1 d (d 2 2 ) ~ R (0) R (0) 2 2 R (0) Dy A 2 1 A2 3 1 A1 ~ From the hypothesis (H), we have Rˆ ( 0) R ( 0) R ( 0) . The bifurcation diagram is the following Figure 5: Figure 5 Thus in order to have coexistence of species 1 and species 2, we need to have large input concentration R ( 0) i.e. R ( 0 ) R̂ ( 0) . Discussion: In this paper we study the competition of two host species for a single-limited resource mediated by parasite. Our basic assumption is 0 1 2 R ( 0 ) (H) In the absence of infection 1 , 2 are the break-even concentration for species 1 and species 2 respectively. We note that the break-even concentration i of ith species is ai i ( mi di ) 1 If mi di or 0 R (0) i then the i-th species goes to extinction ( Hsu 1978). That is, if the maximal growth rate mi is less than or equal to the death rate d i or the input concentration R (0) is too small to support the ith species, then the ith species goes to extinction. Thus we only consider the case that 0 i R (0) . Under the assumption (H) the competitive exclusion principle holds and species 1 which has the smallest break-even concentration, wins the competition (Hsu 1978). Next we consider the case that the infection is mediated by parasite. The equilibrium E1 (1 , S1* , 0, 0, 0) is asymptotically stable if (3) holds. We may rewrite (3) as ( R0 )1 ) 1 ( R ( 0 1) Dy 1 1 (d1 1 1 )d1 (26) where ( R0 )1 is the basic reproduction number of the infection for species 1. From (26) it is easy to see that with d1 fixed if the contact rate 1 or the input concentration R (0) is small or the additional death rate 1 or the recovery rate 1 of the infective population of species 1 are large then species 1 still wins the competition independent of the contact rate 2 of species 2 and species 1 contains only susceptible population. When the basic reproduction number ( R0 )1 is greater than 1, the equilibrium E1 becomes unstable and a new equilibrium E1I1 ( Rˆ1 , Sˆ1 , Iˆ1 , 0, 0) bifurcates. From (20), ( R0 )1 1 is equivalent to 1 ˆ1 . If the instability condition (9) holds, not only E1I1 is unstable but also the new equilibrium E1I1 2 (2 , S1 , I1 , S2 ,0) bifurcates. We note that the instability condition (9) is equivalent to condition 1 1 .where 1 is defined in (20). When ̂1 1 1 , there are two equilibria, namely E1 and E1I1 E1 is unstable and E1I1 is either stable or unstable. In this case competitive exclusion principle still holds. The susceptible and infective population of species 1 either go to positive steady state or sustain oscillation when E1I1 is stable or unstable. To explain the biological meaning , we rewrite ̂1 1 1 as follows: m12 m 1 ) ( 1 2 ) (d )d ( R ) a1 2 a2 2 ˆ1 1 (0) 1 1 1 1 ˆ1 (0) 1 1 h(2 ) ( R 1 ) Dy1 ( R 2 ) d1 1 d1 (0) where m1 m 1 ) ( 1 ) ( R ) a1 a1 h( ) (0) 1 (R ) d1 1 d1 (0) ( ( (27) It is easy to verify h(1 ) 1 by the definition of break-even concentration 1 .and h ( ) is increasing in , lim( 0 ) h( ) . Let h( * ) 1 for 1 ˆ1 . Then (24) implies that R * 2 R (0) ,i.e. the gap between 1 and 2 is large. In this case the species 2 is a weaker competitor. Hence competitive exclusion principle still holds. If 1 1 then 1 2 * and E1I1 becomes unstable and equilibrium E1I1 2 bifurcates. Biologically it says that if the gap between 1 and 2 is small then species 2 can coexist with species 1. If 1 1 and 2 A1 ( A2 A3 1 (28) ) then there are three equilibria, namely E1 , E1I1 , E1I1 2 ; E1 , E1I1 are unstable and E1I2 2 is either stable or unstable.. From (23),(24),(25) we may rewrite (28) as follows: m12 m12 1 ) R 1 a1 2 a1 2 y2 2 [( R (0) 1 ) D][ (0) 2 R 1 ( R0 )1 d1 d1 1 ( R0 )12 1 d 2 (d 2 2 2 ) ( (0) Or ) y2 2( R( 0 2) D( ( R0 )1 h( 2 ) ) 1 (29) ( R0 )1 d 2 (d 2 2 )2 is the basic reproduction number of the infection of species 2 under the condition ( R0 )1 2 where ( R0 )12 that the infection outbreaks for species 1. In order to have ( R (0) )12 0 we need ( R0 )1 h ( 2 ) (30) i.e., the basic reproduction number of infection of species 1 is large enough to have the infective population of species 1.Assume (30) holds. If either the contact rate 2 is small or the additional death rate 2 , recovery rate 2 of species 2 are large, then (29) holds. Thus the disease does not outbreak for species 2. In this case we have coexistence for species 1 and species 2. Species 1 has both susceptible and infective populations, species 2 has only susceptible population. Either the populations go to a steady state if E1I1 2 is stable or sustain periodic oscillation if E1I1 2 is unstable. If 1 1 and 1 A1 ( A2 A3 1 (31) ) then the equilibrium E1I1 2 becomes unstable and a new equilibrium E1I1 2 I 2 bifurcates. Thus there are four equilibria, namely E1 , E1I1 , E1I1 2 , E1I1 2 I 2 ; E1 , E1I1 , E1I1 2 are unstable and E1I1 2 I 2 is either stable or unstable. We may rewrite (31) as ( R0 )1 2 1 (32) From the expression of ( R0 )12 in (29), if the contact rate 2 or the input concentration R (0) is large then (32) holds thus the disease outbreak for species 2 and we have coexistence for species 1 and species 2. Both of them have infective populations. Either the populations go to a steady state if E1I1 2 I 2 is stable or sustain periodic oscillation if E1I1 2 I 2 is unstable. Appendix In Appendix we discuss the existence of equilibria E1I 1 , E1I1 2 , E1I 1 2 I 2 and their relations with the instability of E1 , E1I 1 , E1I1 2 respectively. First we note that the equilibrium E1 (1 , S1 ,0,0,0) of system (1) always exists. The variational matrix of the system (1) at E ( R, S1, I1, S2 , I 2 ) is a11 a12 a 21 a22 J ( E ) 0 a32 a41 0 0 0 a13 a14 a23 0 a33 0 0 a44 0 a54 a15 0 0 a45 a55 where a11 D 1 1 f1 ' ( R)( S1 I1 ) f 2 ' ( R)( S 2 I 2 ) y1 y2 a12 1 f1 ( R ) y1 a13 1 f1 ( R ) y1 a14 1 f 2 ( R) y2 a15 1 f 2 ( R) y2 a21 f1 ' ( R)S1 a22 ( f1 ( R) d1 ) 1I1 a23 1S1 1 a32 1I1 a33 1S1 (d1 1 1 ) a41 f 2 ' ( R)S2 a44 ( f 2 ( R) d2 ) 2 I 2 a45 2 S2 2 a54 2 I 2 a55 2 S2 (d 2 2 2 ) f1 ( R) m1R mR , f 2 ( R) 2 a1 R a2 R The variational matrix J ( E1 ) of system (1) at equilibrium E1 (1 , S1 ,0,0,0) is 1 D y f1 ' (1 ) S1 1 f ' ( 1 1 ) S1 J ( E1 ) 0 0 0 d1 y1 0 d1 y1 1S1 1 0 0 1S1 (d1 1 1 ) 0 0 f 2 (1 ) d 2 0 0 0 1 f 2 ( R) y2 0 0 2 (d 2 2 2 ) 1 f 2 ( R) y2 0 The eigenvalues of J ( E1 ) are 1 (d2 2 2 ) 0 (by (H)) 2 f 2 (1 ) d2 0 3 1S1 (d1 1 1 ) 4 and 5 1 D f1 ' (1 ) S1 are the eigenvalues of y1 f1 ' (1 ) S1 g ( ) ( ( D d1 y1 which characteristic polynomial is 0 1 d f1 ' (1 ) S1 )) 1 f1 ' (1 ) S1 . Then Re 4 , Re 5 0 . Thus E1 is locally stable y1 y1 if 3 0 i.e. 1S1 d1 1 1 and E1 is unstable if 3 0 , i.e. 1S1 d1 1 1 . Next we shall show that if E1 is unstable then the equilibrium E1I1 ( Rˆ , Sˆ1 , Iˆ1 ,0,0) exists where R̂ , Ŝ1 , Iˆ1 satisfy (5), (6), (7). From (6), (7) we have the following Figure 6. Figure 6 Since 1 R̂ , from Figure 6 we have m11 1 1 m11 a1 1 Sˆ ( R (0) ) D 1 1 y1 a1 1 d1 1 1 d1 1 1 d1 ( R (0) 1 ) D y1 1 1S1 d1 1 1 Thus instability of E1 implies the existence of E1I1 . The variational matrix of (1) at E1I1 ( Rˆ , Sˆ1 , Iˆ1 ,0,0) is 1 1 1 1 1 ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ f 2 ( Rˆ ) D y f1 '( R)( S1 I1 ) y f1 ( R) y f1 ( R ) y f 2 ( R ) y2 1 1 1 2 ˆ I f1 '( Rˆ ) Sˆ1 11 1Sˆ1 1 0 0 Sˆ1 J ( E1I1 ) ˆ 0 1 I1 0 0 0 0 0 0 f 2 ( Rˆ ) d 2 2 0 0 0 0 ( d 2 2 2 ) The eigenvalues of J ( E1I1 ) are 1 (d2 2 2 ) 0 2 f 2 ( Rˆ ) d 2 and 3 , 4 , 5 are eighenvalues of the 3 3 matrix 1 1 1 ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ D y f1 ' ( R )( S1 I1 ) y f1 ( R ) y f1 ( R ) 1 1 1 ˆ I 1 1 ˆ ˆ ˆ f1 ' ( R ) S1 1S1 1 Sˆ1 0 1Iˆ1 0 which characteristic polynomial is 3 a1 2 a2 a 3 0 where a1 1Iˆ1 Sˆ1 (D 1 f1 ' ( Rˆ )( Sˆ1 Iˆ1 )) y1 a2 a3 1Iˆ1 Sˆ1 (D 1 1 f1 ' ( Rˆ ))( Sˆ1 Iˆ1 ) f1 ' ( Rˆ ) Sˆ1 f1 ( Rˆ ) 1Iˆ1 ( 1Sˆ1 1 ) y1 y1 1 1 f1 ( Rˆ ) f1 ' ( Rˆ ) Sˆ11Iˆ1 1Iˆ1 ( 1Sˆ1 1 )( D f1 ' ( Rˆ )( Sˆ1 Iˆ1 )) y1 y1 From Routh-Hurwitz criterion, E1I 1 is locally stable if a1a2 a3 . It is rather difficult to verify this condition. In order to simplify the computation, we consider the case 1 0 to justify the condition a1a2 a3 . When 1 0 , a1a2 a3 becomes (D 1 1 f 1 ' ( Rˆ )( Sˆ1 Iˆ1 ))[( f 1 ' ( Rˆ ) Sˆ1 f 1 ( Rˆ )) 1 Iˆ1 1 Sˆ1 ] y1 y1 1 1 f 1 ( Rˆ ) f 1 ' ( Rˆ ) Sˆ1 1 Iˆ1 1 Iˆ1 1 Sˆ1 ( D f 1 ' ( Rˆ )( Sˆ1 Iˆ1 )) y1 y1 D 1 f1 ' ( Rˆ )( Sˆ1 Iˆ1 ) 1Iˆ1 y1 f ' ( Rˆ ) f ( Rˆ ) d1 ˆ D ( R ( 0 ) Rˆ ) D 1 1 1 S1 f1 ( Rˆ ) d1 d1 1 f1 ( Rˆ ) m Rˆ m1a1 Substitute f1 ( Rˆ ) 1 , f1 ' ( Rˆ ) into above, it follows that a1 Rˆ (a1 Rˆ ) 2 ( 0) aR Rˆ 1 Rˆ m d 1 1 ( Rˆ 1 ) D If D (m1 d1 ) , then E1I 1 is locally stable. For the case D (m1 d1 ) , if Rˆ Rˆ * then E1I 1 is locally stable; if Rˆ Rˆ then E1I 1 is unstable with 1-dimensional unstable manifold where R̂ * is the unique positive root of R a1 R ( 0) m1 d1 ( R 1 ) . R D We note that 2 0 if and only if Rˆ 2 . We shall prove that the instability condition Rˆ 2 ~ ~ ~ ~ implies the existence of the equilibrium E1I1 2 (2 , S1 , I1 , S2 ,0) . From (12), if S 2 0 then m12 1 1 m a 2 . ( R ( 0) 2 ) D 1 2 Sˆ1 1 y1 a1 2 d1 1 From Figure 6 the above identity is equivalent to Rˆ 2 . Thus from (10), (11), (12), Rˆ 2 implies the existence of the equilibrium E1I1 2 . ~ ~ ~ The variation matrix of (1) at E1I1 2 (2 , S1 , I1 , S2 ,0) is 1 ~ ~ D y f1 ' (2 )( S1 I1 ) 1 1 f1 ( 2 ) ~ y1 1 f ' ( ) S y 2 2 2 2 ~ ~ J ( E1I1 2 ) f1 ' (2 ) S1 ( f 1 ( 2 ) d1 ) 1 I 1 ~ 0 1 I 1 ~ f 2 ' ( 2 ) S 2 0 0 0 1 1 f1 ( 2 ) f 2 ( 2 ) y1 y2 ~ 1S1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ~ 2 S2 2 ~ 2 S 2 (d 2 2 2 ) 1 f 2 ( 2 ) y2 ~ The eigenvalues of J ( E1I1 2 ) is 1 2 S 2 (d1 1 1 ) and 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 which are eighenvalues of the 4 4 matrix ~ ~ ~ 1 1 D y f1 ' (2 )( S1 I1 ) y f 2 ' (2 ) S 2 1 2 ~ f ' ( ) S M 1 2 1 0 ~ f 2 ' (2 ) S 2 1 1 1 f1 (2 ) f1 (2 ) f 2 (2 ) y1 y1 y2 ~ ~ ( f1 (2 ) d1 ) 1I1 1S1 1 0 ~ 1I1 0 0 0 0 0 It is difficult to verify all eigenvalues of the matrix M have negative real parts by Routh-Hurwitz criterion. In fact E1I1 2 may be stable or unstable, we note that 1 0 if and only if ~ d 2 2 S2 2 . It can be shown that the instability condition for ( E1I1 2 ) , 1 0 2 ~ d 2 2 S2 2 implies the existence of the equilibrium E1I1 2 I2 ( R , S1 , I1, S2 , I 2 ) . From (14) - 2 (18), R satisfies R 2 1 and m1R m2 R 1 2 1 m1R a R 1 m2 R S a2 R h( R ) . ( R (0) R ) D S1 1 2 y1 a1 R d1 1 y2 a2 R d2 2 From the following Figure 7 Figure 7 We have m12 1 1 m a 2 1 2 1 d S . ( R ( 0) 2 ) D S1 1 2 2 y1 a1 2 d1 1 y2 Thus m12 1 1 m12 d1 1 1 a1 2 1 d d2 2 2 . ( R ( 0) 2 ) D d1 1 y2 2 y1 a1 2 1 2 2 where A1 A1 d2 (d 2 2 2 ) y2 A2 ( R( 0) 2 ) D A3 1 m12 d1 1 1 m12 1 y1 a1 2 1 d1 a1 2 ( A2 A3 1 ) Literature Cited S. B. Hsu 1978 Limiting behavior for competing species SIAM J. Applied Math. 34, 760-3 D. Herbert, R. Elsworth, and R. C. Telling 1956 The Continuous culture of bacteria; a theoretical and experimental study Journal of Canadian Microbiology 14, 601-22 E. O. Powell 1958 Criteria for the growth of contaiminants and mutants in continuous culture Journal of General Microbiology 18, 259-68 S. B. Hsu, S. P. Hubbell and P. Waltman A mathematical theory for single nutrient competition in continuous cultures of micro-organisms SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics 32, 366-83 H. Smith and P. Waltman The Theory of Chemostat Cambridge Press 1994 Melanie J. Hatcher, J. T. A. Dick and A. M. Dunn, How parasites affect interaction between competitors and predators, Ecology Letters (2006) 9:1253-1271