MATH3041, 2015

Problem sheet 2 of 2
1. Leslies prey-predator model. Consider the equations
du
= au bu2 cuv
dt
dv
v2
= dv e
dt
u
where a, b, c, d and e are positive parameters. The predator equation is logistic, with
carrying capacity proportional to the prey population.
(a) Which species is the predator, and which is prey?
(b) Sketch the u v phase plane. Include the non-zero fixed point, the zero and
infinity isoclines and the direction arrows on them.
(c) What is the behaviour of solutions of the model?
2. Consider two species u and v competing for the same food, and let f (u, v) be the rate
at which food is consumed. Let f (u, v) as |(u, v)| . Let u and v satisfy the
equations
du
= r1 u (1 1 f (u, v))
dt
dv
= r2 v (1 2 f (u, v))
dt
with initial conditions u(0) = u0 , v(0) = v0 . The parameters ri and i are positive
(a) Show that
r2 2

d
d
(log u) r1 1 (log v) = r1 r2 (2 1 )
dt
dt

(b) Integrate the above equation and deduce a principle of competitive exclusion,
giving the conditions in as simplified form as possible, for u to outcompete v.
(Hint: integrate t from 0 to T with v(T ) = 0 and u(T ) = uT > 0. )
3. Disturbance-mediated coexistence. In some experiments on competition between two
species of hydra, it was found that coexistence was only possible if a fraction of the
population of each species was removed at regular intervals. A model for the system
with this experimental manipulation is given by
r1 N1
dN1
=
(K1 m1 N1 aN2 )
dt
K1
dN2
r2 N2
=
(K2 m2 bN1 N2 )
dt
K2
Explain the parameters of the model.
Show that if K1 = 100, K2 = 90, a = 1.2, b = 0.8, m1 = 2 and m2 = 10 then
stable coexistence occurs for this system but not for the corresponding system with
m1 = m2 = 0.
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4. Competitive exclusion model (discussed in class but try again yourself)

Consider a model of competition between two species,


dN1
N1
N2
b12
,
= r1 N1 1
dt
K1
K1


N2
N1
dN2
b21
= r2 N2 1
dt
K2
K2

(1)
(2)

where all the parameter values are positive.

(a) Apply the following scales and the lumped parameters to the model
N1
N2
, u2 =
, = r1 t ,
K1
K2
K2
K1
= b12
, a21 = b21
K1
K2

u1 =
a12

r2
r1

(3)
(4)

to obtain
du1
= u1 (1 u1 a12 u2 )
dt
du2
= u2 (1 u2 a21 u1 )
dt

(5)
(6)

Consider the model with = 1.

(b) Find all the equilibrium solutions (fixed points) of the model. There are 4. List
all the conditions for which some of the equilibrium solutions dont exist for
u1 0, u2 0.
(c) Evaluate the stability of the equilibrium solutions. Note that it might depend
on the size of a21 and a12 .
(d) From the previous questions you should see that there are 4 different cases of this
model. Plot the phase portraits for each case and comment on the outcome of the
competition for each case. Clearly show all equilibrium points, isoclines and direction arrows on them, and other direction arrows that is helpful to demonstrate
the dynamics.
5. Modeling Venereal diseases. A model of infection between males (non-starred dependent variables) and females (starred dependent variables) is
dS
dS
= rSI + aI ,
= r S I + a I
dt
dt
dI
dI
= rSI aI ,
= r S I a I
dt
dt
where the total number of males and females are assumed to be constant and equal
to N and N respectively. Assume non-zero initial conditions for all the populations.
(a) This is an example of an SIS model. Discuss the model interactions and parameters.
(b) Eliminate the susceptible population variables and reduce the model into two
equations involving I and I .
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(c) Find the equilibrium points of the model and hence deduce the threshold condition for existence of the positive steady state of the infected population.
6. SIR model with disease-related death.
With constant birth rate as opposed to per-capita birth rate, a model is
dS
= B IS dS
dt
dI
= IS I cI dI
dt
dR
= I dR
dt
(a) Explain how this is different to the SIR model in the lectures notes. What does
the class R represent in this model? Note is not equivalent to in the model
of the notes.
(b) The total population density is N = S + I + R. Obtain the differential equation
for N , hence consider a system involving N, S, I.
(c) Find the disease-free steady state (where I = 0, S and N non-zero)and the
endemic steady state (I 6= 0).
7. Consider a population of non-constant size N = S + I + R with per capita birth rate
b(N ) and death rate d(N ). Assume that it reaches a stable steady state N in the
absence of disease, with b(N ) = d(N ), and implied b0 (N ) < d0 (N ).
dS
= b(N )N IS d(N )S
dt
dI
= IS I cI d(N )I
dt
dR
= I d(N )R
dt
(a) What is the reproduction number when this disease is introduced into a population at the disease-free steady state?
(b) Analyse the stability of the disease-free steady state with S = N . Show that
the disease can invade if
N > + c + d(N )