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In this paper, we investigate a reaction-diffusion model incorporating dynamic variables for nutrient, phytoplankton, and zooplankton. Moreover, we account for the impact of time delay in the growth of phytoplankton following nutrient uptake. Our theoretical analysis reveals that the time delay can trigger the emergence of persistent oscillations in the model via a Hopf bifurcation. We also analytically track the direction of Hopf bifurcation and the stability of the bifurcating periodic solutions. Our simulation results demonstrate stability switches occurring for the positive equilibrium with an increasing time lag. Furthermore, the model exhibits homogeneous periodic-2 and 3 solutions, as well as chaotic behaviour. These findings highlight that the presence of time delay in the phytoplankton growth can bring forth dynamical complexity to the nutrient-plankton system of aquatic habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we are concerned with an epidemic model with quarantine and distributed time delay. We define the basic reproduction number R 0 and show that if R 0 ≤ 1 , then the disease-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable, whereas if R 0 > 1 , then it is unstable and there exists a unique endemic equilibrium. We obtain sufficient conditions for a Hopf bifurcation that induces a nontrivial periodic solution which represents recurrent epidemic waves. By numerical simulations, we illustrate stability and instability parameter regions. Our results suggest that the quarantine and time delay play important roles in the occurrence of recurrent epidemic waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider a fear effect predator–prey model with mutual interference or group defense. For the model with mutual interference, we show the interior equilibrium is globally stable, and the mutual interference can stabilize the predator–prey system. For the model with group defense, we discuss the singular dynamics around the origin and the occurrence of Hopf bifurcation, and find that there is a separatrix curve near the origin such that the orbits above which tend to the origin and the orbits below which tend to limit cycle or the interior equilibrium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we derive a delayed epidemic model to describe the characterization of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated immune response against virus infection. The stability of equilibria and the existence of Hopf bifurcation are analysed. Theoretical results reveal that if the basic reproductive number is greater than 1, the positive equilibrium may lose its stability and the bifurcated periodic solution occurs when time delay is taken as the bifurcation parameter. Furthermore, we investigate an optimal control problem according to the delayed model based on the available therapy for hepatitis B infection. With the aim of minimizing the infected cells and viral load with consideration for the treatment costs, the optimal solution is discussed analytically. For the case when periodic solution occurs, numerical simulations are performed to suggest the optimal therapeutic strategy and compare the model-predicted consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce and deal with the delayed nutrient-microorganism model with a random network structure. By employing time delay τ as the main critical value of the Hopf bifurcation, we investigate the direction of the Hopf bifurcation of such a random network nutrient-microorganism model. Noticing that the results of the direction of the Hopf bifurcation in a random network model are rare, we thus try to use the method of multiple time scales (MTS) to derive amplitude equation and determine the direction of the Hopf bifurcation. It is showed that the delayed random network nutrient-microorganism model can exhibit a supercritical or subcritical Hopf bifurcation. Numerical experiments are performed to verify the validity of the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to analyse stability and Hopf bifurcation of the HIV-1 model with immune delay under the functional response of the Holling II type. The global stability analysis has been considered by Lyapunov–LaSalle theorem. And stability and the sufficient condition for the existence of Hopf Bifurcation of the infected equilibrium of the HIV-1 model with immune response are also studied. Some numerical simulations verify the above results. Finally, we propose a novel three dimension system to the future study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a delayed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) model with apoptosis of cells has been studied. Both immunological and intracellular delay have been incorporated to make the model more relevant. Firstly, the model has been investigated using local stability analysis. Next, the global stability analysis of steady states has been performed. The stability switch criteria taking the delay as the bifurcating parameter, leading to Hopf bifurcation has been studied. The transition of the system from order to chaos has been explored, and the analytical results have been verified by numerical simulations. The results thus can be used to describe the extensive dynamics exhibited by the model introduced in this article. The effects of apoptosis on viral load has been studied in the model numerically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the dynamical behaviours for a five-dimensional virus infection model with three delays which describes the interactions of antibody, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) immune responses and Beddington-DeAngelis incidence are investigated. The reproduction numbers for virus infection, antibody immune response, CTL immune response, CTL immune competition and antibody immune competition, respectively, are calculated. By using the Lyapunov functionals and linearization method, the threshold conditions on the local and global stability of the equilibria for infection-free, immune-free, antibody response, CTL response and interior, respectively, are established. The existence of Hopf bifurcation with immune delay as a bifurcation parameter is investigated by using the bifurcation theory. Numerical simulations are presented to justify the analytical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a delayed diffusive predator–prey model with schooling behaviour and Allee effect is investigated. The existence and local stability of equilibria of model without time delay and diffusion are given. Regarding the conversion rate as bifurcation parameter, Hopf bifurcation of diffusive system without time delay is obtained. In addition, the local stability of the coexistent equilibrium and existence of Hopf bifurcation of system with time delay are discussed. Moreover, the properties of Hopf bifurcation are studied based on the centre manifold and normal form theory for partial functional differential equations. Finally, some numerical simulations are also carried out to confirm our theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we formulate a stage-structured predator–prey model with mutual interference, in which includes two discrete delays. By theoretical analysis, we establish the stability of the unique positive equilibrium and the existence of Hopf bifurcation when the maturation delay for predators is used as the bifurcation parameter. Our results exhibit that the maturation delay for preys does not affect the stability of the positive equilibrium. However, the maturation delay for predator is able to destabilize the positive equilibrium and causes periodic solutions. Numerical simulations are carried out to illustrate the theoretical results and display the differential impacts of two type delays and mutual interference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers an eco-epidemiological model with disease in the prey population. The disease in the prey divides the total prey population into two subclasses, susceptible prey and infected prey. The model also incorporates fear of predator that reduces the growth rate of the prey population. Furthermore, fear of predator lowers the activity of the prey population, which reduces the disease transmission. The model is well-posed with bounded solutions. It has an extinction equilibrium, susceptible prey equilibrium, susceptible prey-predator equilibrium, and coexistence equilibria. Conditions for local stability of equilibria are established. The model exhibits fear- induced backward bifurcation and bistability. Extensive numerical simulations show the presence of oscillations and occurrence of chaos due to fear induced lower disease transmission in the prey population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate an age-structured HIV infection model with logistic growth for target cell. We rewrite the model as an abstract non-densely defined Cauchy problem and obtain the condition which guarantees the existence of the unique positive steady state. By linearizing the model at steady state and analysing the associated characteristic transcendental equations, we study the local asymptotic stability of the steady state. Furthermore, by using Hopf bifurcation theorem in Liu et al., we show that Hopf bifurcation occurs at the positive steady state when bifurcating parameter crosses some critical values. Finally, we perform some numerical simulations to illustrate our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate a new alcoholism model in which alcoholics have age structure. We rewrite the model as an abstract non-densely defined Cauchy problem and obtain the condition which guarantees the existence of the unique positive steady state. By linearizing the model at steady state and analyzing the associated characteristic transcendental equations, we study the local asymptotic stability of the steady state. Furthermore, by using Hopf bifurcation theorem in Liu et al. (Z. Angew. Math. Phys. 62 (2011) 191-222), we show that Hopf bifurcation occurs at the positive steady state when bifurcating parameter crosses some critical values. Finally, we perform some numerical simulations to illustrate our theoretical results and give a brief conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a predator-prey system with harvesting prey and disease in prey species is given. In the absence of time delay, the existence and stability of all equilibria are investigated. In the presence of time delay, some sufficient conditions of the local stability of the positive equilibrium and the existence of Hopf bifurcation are obtained by analysing the corresponding characteristic equation, and the properties of Hopf bifurcation are given by using the normal form theory and centre manifold theorem. Furthermore, an optimal harvesting policy is investigated by applying the Pontryagin's Maximum Principle. Numerical simulations are performed to support our analytic results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the dynamics of a prey--predator model with cooperative hunting among specialist predators and maturation delay in predator growth. First, we consider a model without delay and explore the effect of hunting time on the coexistence of predator and their prey. When the hunting time is long enough and the cooperation rate among predators is weak, prey and predator species tend to coexist. Furthermore, we observe the occurrences of a series of bifurcations that depend on the cooperation rate and the hunting time. Second, we introduce a maturation delay for predator growth and analyse its impact on the system's dynamics.Wefind that as the delay becomes larger, predator species become more likely to go extinct, as the long maturation delay hinders the growth of the predator population. Our numerical exploration reveals that the delay causes shifts in both the bifurcation curves and bifurcation thresholds of the non-delayed system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a previous tumour–immune interaction model is simplified by neglecting a relatively weak direct immune activation by the tumour cells, which can still keep the essential dynamics properties of the original model. As the immune activation process is not instantaneous, we now incorporate one delay for the activation of the effector cells (ECs) by helper T cells (HTCs) into the model. Furthermore, we investigate the stability and instability regions of the tumour-presence equilibrium state of the delay-induced system with respect to two parameters, the activation rate of ECs by HTCs and the HTCs stimulation rate by the presence of identified tumour antigens. We show the dual role of this delay that can induce stability switches exhibiting destabilization as well as stabilization of the tumour-presence equilibrium. Besides, our results reveal that an appropriate immune activation time delay plays a significant role in control of tumour growth. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In many existing predator-prey or plant-herbivore models, the numerical response is assumed to be proportional to the functional response. In this paper, without such an assumption, we consider a diffusive plant-herbivore system with Neumann boundary conditions. Besides stability of spatially homogeneous steady states, we also derive conditions for the occurrence of Hopf bifurcation and steady-state bifurcation and provide geometrical methods to locate the bifurcation values. We numerically explore the complex transient spatio-temporal behaviours induced by these bifurcations. A large variety of different types of transient behaviours including oscillations in one or both of space and time are observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study complex dynamical behaviour in biological systems due to multiple limit cycles bifurcation. We use simple epidemic and predator--prey models to show exact routes to new types of bistability, that is, bistability between equilibrium and periodic oscillation, and bistability between two oscillations, which may more realistically describe the real situations. Bifurcation theory and normal form theory are applied to investigate the multiple limit cycles bifurcating from Hopf critical point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, on the basis of the simplified two-dimensional virus infection dynamics model, we propose two extended models that aim at incorporating the influence of activation-induced apoptosis which directly affects the population of uninfected cells. The theoretical analysis shows that increasing apoptosis plays a positive role in control of virus infection. However, after being included the third population of cytotoxic T lymphocytes immune response in HIV-infected patients, it shows that depending on intensity of the apoptosis of healthy cells, the apoptosis can either promote or comfort the long-term evolution of HIV infection. Further, the discrete-time delay of apoptosis is incorporated into the pervious model. Stability switching occurs as the time delay in apoptosis increases. Numerical simulations are performed to illustrate the theoretical results and display the different impacts of a delay in apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we first modify a Lotka–Volterra predator–prey system to incorporate an opportunistic predator and weak Allee effect in prey. The prey will be extinct if the combined effect of hunting and other food resources of predator is large. Otherwise, the dynamic behaviour of the system is extremely rich. A series of bifurcations such as saddle-node bifurcation, Hopf bifurcation, and Bogdanov–Takens bifurcation can happen. The validity of the theoretical results are supported with numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we formulate a discrete-time model with the reproductive and overwintering periods to assess the impact of avian influenza transmission in poultry. It is shown that the disease is extinct if the basic reproduction number is less than one and is persistent if the basic reproductive number is greater than one. Furthermore, the model admits a closed invariant cycle, which means that avian influenza fluctuates in poultry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate a reaction-diffusion model incorporating dynamic variables for nutrient, phytoplankton, and zooplankton. Moreover, we account for the impact of time delay in the growth of phytoplankton following nutrient uptake. Our theoretical analysis reveals that the time delay can trigger the emergence of persistent oscillations in the model via a Hopf bifurcation. We also analytically track the direction of Hopf bifurcation and the stability of the bifurcating periodic solutions. Our simulation results demonstrate stability switches occurring for the positive equilibrium with an increasing time lag. Furthermore, the model exhibits homogeneous periodic-2 and 3 solutions, as well as chaotic behaviour. These findings highlight that the presence of time delay in the phytoplankton growth can bring forth dynamical complexity to the nutrient-plankton system of aquatic habitats.

In this paper, we consider a fear effect predator–prey model with mutual interference or group defense. For the model with mutual interference, we show the interior equilibrium is globally stable, and the mutual interference can stabilize the predator–prey system. For the model with group defense, we discuss the singular dynamics around the origin and the occurrence of Hopf bifurcation, and find that there is a separatrix curve near the origin such that the orbits above which tend to the origin and the orbits below which tend to limit cycle or the interior equilibrium.

In this paper, we introduce and deal with the delayed nutrient-microorganism model with a random network structure. By employing time delay τ as the main critical value of the Hopf bifurcation, we investigate the direction of the Hopf bifurcation of such a random network nutrient-microorganism model. Noticing that the results of the direction of the Hopf bifurcation in a random network model are rare, we thus try to use the method of multiple time scales (MTS) to derive amplitude equation and determine the direction of the Hopf bifurcation. It is showed that the delayed random network nutrient-microorganism model can exhibit a supercritical or subcritical Hopf bifurcation. Numerical experiments are performed to verify the validity of the theoretical analysis.

In this paper, we derive a delayed epidemic model to describe the characterization of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated immune response against virus infection. The stability of equilibria and the existence of Hopf bifurcation are analysed. Theoretical results reveal that if the basic reproductive number is greater than 1, the positive equilibrium may lose its stability and the bifurcated periodic solution occurs when time delay is taken as the bifurcation parameter. Furthermore, we investigate an optimal control problem according to the delayed model based on the available therapy for hepatitis B infection. With the aim of minimizing the infected cells and viral load with consideration for the treatment costs, the optimal solution is discussed analytically. For the case when periodic solution occurs, numerical simulations are performed to suggest the optimal therapeutic strategy and compare the model-predicted consequences.

In this paper, we are concerned with an epidemic model with quarantine and distributed time delay. We define the basic reproduction number [Formula: see text] and show that if [Formula: see text], then the disease-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable, whereas if [Formula: see text], then it is unstable and there exists a unique endemic equilibrium. We obtain sufficient conditions for a Hopf bifurcation that induces a nontrivial periodic solution which represents recurrent epidemic waves. By numerical simulations, we illustrate stability and instability parameter regions. Our results suggest that the quarantine and time delay play important roles in the occurrence of recurrent epidemic waves.

This article is concerned with the dynamics of malaria infection model with diffusion and delay. The disease free threshold ℜ 0 and the immune response threshold value ℜ 1 of the malaria infection are obtained, which characterize the stability of the disease free equilibrium and infection equilibrium (with or without immune response). In addition, fluctuations occur when the model undergoes Hopf bifurcation as the delay passes through a certain critical value τ 0 . In this case, periodic oscillation appears near the positive steady state, which implies the recurrent attacks of disease. Finally, numerical simulations are provided to illustrate the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to analyse stability and Hopf bifurcation of the HIV-1 model with immune delay under the functional response of the Holling II type. The global stability analysis has been considered by Lyapunov–LaSalle theorem. And stability and the sufficient condition for the existence of Hopf Bifurcation of the infected equilibrium of the HIV-1 model with immune response are also studied. Some numerical simulations verify the above results. Finally, we propose a novel three dimension system to the future study.

In this paper, a delayed diffusive predator–prey model with schooling behaviour and Allee effect is investigated. The existence and local stability of equilibria of model without time delay and diffusion are given. Regarding the conversion rate as bifurcation parameter, Hopf bifurcation of diffusive system without time delay is obtained. In addition, the local stability of the coexistent equilibrium and existence of Hopf bifurcation of system with time delay are discussed. Moreover, the properties of Hopf bifurcation are studied based on the centre manifold and normal form theory for partial functional differential equations. Finally, some numerical simulations are also carried out to confirm our theoretical results.

In this paper, we formulate a stage-structured predator–prey model with mutual interference, in which includes two discrete delays. By theoretical analysis, we establish the stability of the unique positive equilibrium and the existence of Hopf bifurcation when the maturation delay for predators is used as the bifurcation parameter. Our results exhibit that the maturation delay for preys does not affect the stability of the positive equilibrium. However, the maturation delay for predator is able to destabilize the positive equilibrium and causes periodic solutions. Numerical simulations are carried out to illustrate the theoretical results and display the differential impacts of two type delays and mutual interference.

This paper considers an eco-epidemiological model with disease in the prey population. The disease in the prey divides the total prey population into two subclasses, susceptible prey and infected prey. The model also incorporates fear of predator that reduces the growth rate of the prey population. Furthermore, fear of predator lowers the activity of the prey population, which reduces the disease transmission. The model is well-posed with bounded solutions. It has an extinction equilibrium, susceptible prey equilibrium, susceptible prey-predator equilibrium, and coexistence equilibria. Conditions for local stability of equilibria are established. The model exhibits fear- induced backward bifurcation and bistability. Extensive numerical simulations show the presence of oscillations and occurrence of chaos due to fear induced lower disease transmission in the prey population.

In this paper, we investigate an age-structured HIV infection model with logistic growth for target cell. We rewrite the model as an abstract non-densely defined Cauchy problem and obtain the condition which guarantees the existence of the unique positive steady state. By linearizing the model at steady state and analysing the associated characteristic transcendental equations, we study the local asymptotic stability of the steady state. Furthermore, by using Hopf bifurcation theorem in Liu et al., we show that Hopf bifurcation occurs at the positive steady state when bifurcating parameter crosses some critical values. Finally, we perform some numerical simulations to illustrate our results.

In this paper, the dynamical behaviours for a five-dimensional virus infection model with three delays which describes the interactions of antibody, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) immune responses and Beddington–DeAngelis incidence are investigated. The reproduction numbers for virus infection, antibody immune response, CTL immune response, CTL immune competition and antibody immune competition, respectively, are calculated. By using the Lyapunov functionals and linearization method, the threshold conditions on the local and global stability of the equilibria for infection-free, immune-free, antibody response, CTL response and interior, respectively, are established. The existence of Hopf bifurcation with immune delay as a bifurcation parameter is investigated by using the bifurcation theory. Numerical simulations are presented to justify the analytical results.

In this paper, a predator–prey system with harvesting prey and disease in prey species is given. In the absence of time delay, the existence and stability of all equilibria are investigated. In the presence of time delay, some sufficient conditions of the local stability of the positive equilibrium and the existence of Hopf bifurcation are obtained by analysing the corresponding characteristic equation, and the properties of Hopf bifurcation are given by using the normal form theory and centre manifold theorem. Furthermore, an optimal harvesting policy is investigated by applying the Pontryagin's Maximum Principle. Numerical simulations are performed to support our analytic results.

In this paper, a delayed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) model with apoptosis of cells has been studied. Both immunological and intracellular delay have been incorporated to make the model more relevant. Firstly, the model has been investigated using local stability analysis. Next, the global stability analysis of steady states has been performed. The stability switch criteria taking the delay as the bifurcating parameter, leading to Hopf bifurcation has been studied. The transition of the system from order to chaos has been explored, and the analytical results have been verified by numerical simulations. The results thus can be used to describe the extensive dynamics exhibited by the model introduced in this article. The effects of apoptosis on viral load has been studied in the model numerically.

In this paper, we investigate a new alcoholism model in which alcoholics have age structure. We rewrite the model as an abstract non-densely defined Cauchy problem and obtain the condition which guarantees the existence of the unique positive steady state. By linearizing the model at steady state and analyzing the associated characteristic transcendental equations, we study the local asymptotic stability of the steady state. Furthermore, by using Hopf bifurcation theorem in Liu et al. (Z. Angew. Math. Phys. 62 (2011) 191–222), we show that Hopf bifurcation occurs at the positive steady state when bifurcating parameter crosses some critical values. Finally, we perform some numerical simulations to illustrate our theoretical results and give a brief conclusion.

Understanding mosquitoes life cycle is of great interest presently because of the increasing impact of vector borne diseases in several countries. There is evidence of oscillations in mosquito populations independent of seasonality, still unexplained, based on observations both in laboratories and in nature. We propose a simple mathematical model of egg hatching enhancement by larvae which produces such oscillations that conveys a possible explanation. We propose both a theoretical analysis, based on slow–fast dynamics and Hopf bifurcation, and numerical investigations in order to shed some light on the mechanisms at work in this model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a previous tumour–immune interaction model is simplified by neglecting a relatively weak direct immune activation by the tumour cells, which can still keep the essential dynamics properties of the original model. As the immune activation process is not instantaneous, we now incorporate one delay for the activation of the effector cells (ECs) by helper T cells (HTCs) into the model. Furthermore, we investigate the stability and instability regions of the tumour-presence equilibrium state of the delay-induced system with respect to two parameters, the activation rate of ECs by HTCs and the HTCs stimulation rate by the presence of identified tumour antigens. We show the dual role of this delay that can induce stability switches exhibiting destabilization as well as stabilization of the tumour-presence equilibrium. Besides, our results reveal that an appropriate immune activation time delay plays a significant role in control of tumour growth.

In this paper, we study complex dynamical behaviour in biological systems due to multiple limit cycles bifurcation. We use simple epidemic and predator–prey models to show exact routes to new types of bistability, that is, bistability between equilibrium and periodic oscillation, and bistability between two oscillations, which may more realistically describe the real situations. Bifurcation theory and normal form theory are applied to investigate the multiple limit cycles bifurcating from Hopf critical point.

In many existing predator–prey or plant–herbivore models, the numerical response is assumed to be proportional to the functional response. In this paper, without such an assumption, we consider a diffusive plant–herbivore system with Neumann boundary conditions. Besides stability of spatially homogeneous steady states, we also derive conditions for the occurrence of Hopf bifurcation and steady-state bifurcation and provide geometrical methods to locate the bifurcation values. We numerically explore the complex transient spatio-temporal behaviours induced by these bifurcations. A large variety of different types of transient behaviours including oscillations in one or both of space and time are observed.

Based on game theory, we propose an age-structured model to investigate the imitation dynamics of vaccine uptake. We first obtain the existence and local stability of equilibria. We show that Hopf bifurcation can occur. We also establish the global stability of the boundary equilibria and persistence of the disease. The theoretical results are supported by numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to maximize the information that a linearized stability analysis provides, one should work with two free parameters rather than one. Moreover, it is recommended to first consider coefficients in the characteristic equation as parameters and in a second step (try to) invert the map that defines the coefficients in terms of the parameters as they occur in the original equation. Our aim is to substantiate these claims by way of a delay equation example taken from the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A deterministic model with spatial consideration for a class of human disease-transmitting vectors is presented and analysed. The model takes the form of a nonlinear system of delayed ordinary differential equations in a compartmental framework. Using the model, existence conditions of a non-trivial steady-state vector population are obtained when more than one breeding site and human habitat site are available. Model analysis confirms the existence of a non-trivial steady state, uniquely determined by a threshold parameter, [image omitted] , whose value depends on the distribution and distance of breeding site j to human habitats. Results are based on the existence of a globally and asymptotically stable non-trivial steady-state human population. The explicit form of the Hopf bifurcation, initially reported by Ngwa [On the population dynamics of the malaria vector, Bull. Math. Biol. 68 (2006), pp. 2161-2189], is also obtained and used to show that the vector population oscillates with time. The modelling exercise points to the possibility of spatial-temporal patterns and oscillatory behaviour without external seasonal forcing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lethargic crab disease (LCD) is an emergent infirmity that has decimated native populations of the mangrove land crab (Ucides cordatus, Decapoda: Ocypodidae) along the Brazilian coast. Several potential etiological agents have been linked with LCD, but only in 2005 was it proved that it is caused by an ascomycete fungus. This is the first attempt to develop a mathematical model to describe the epidemiological dynamics of LCD. The model presents four possible scenarios, namely, the trivial equilibrium, the disease-free equilibrium, endemic equilibrium, and limit cycles arising from a Hopf bifurcation. The threshold values depend on the basic reproductive number of crabs and fungi, and on the infection rate. These scenarios depend on both the biological assumptions and the temporal evolution of the disease. Numerical simulations corroborate the analytical results and illustrate the different temporal dynamics of the crab and fungus populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We model a chemostat containing an age-structured predator and its prey using a linear function for the uptake of substrate by the prey and two different functional responses (linear and Monod) for the consumption of prey by the predator. Limit cycles (LCs) caused by the predator's age structure arise at Hopf bifurcations at low values of the chemostat dilution rate for both model cases. In addition, LCs caused by the predator-prey interaction arise for the case with the Monod functional response. At low dilution rates in the Monod case, the age structure causes cycling at lower values of the inflowing resource concentration and conversely prevents cycling at higher values of the inflowing resource concentration. The results shed light on a similar model by Fussmann et al. [G. Fussmann, S. Ellner, K. Shertzer, and N. Hairston, Crossing the Hopf bifurcation in a live predator-prey system, Science 290 (2000), pp. 1358-1360.], which correctly predicted conditions for the onset of cycling in a chemostat containing an age-structured rotifer population feeding on algal prey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]