Mathematical Biology Seminar
Monday, October 27, 2014
3 pm – 457 CAB
Qihua Huang
University of Alberta
R0 Analysis of a Benthic-Drift Model for a
Stream Population
River ecosystems are the prime example of environments
where unidirectional flow influences the dispersal of
individuals. Assessing population and community persistence
for varying stream flows is a key issue for biodiversity
maintenance in advective environments. In this work, we
present a benthic-drift model for a stream population by
dividing the population into two interacting compartments:
individuals residing on the benthos and individuals drifting in
the flow. The model that consists of an advection-diffusionreaction equation and an ordinary differential equation
couples hydraulic flow to population growth. We consider
population persistence based on the net reproductive rate R0
in the context of a next generation operator and on related
measures. We apply the measures to population persistence
in rivers under various flow regimes.
CENTRE FOR MATHEMATICAL BIOLOGY
MATHEMATICAL & STATISTICAL SCIENCES
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA