Nonlinear non-equilibrium pattern formation in a spatial aquatic system: effect of fish predation

Abstract

An attempt has been made to introduce the mathematical modeling of nonlinear non-equilibrium spatio-temporal pattern formation in a minimal model of a spatial aquatic system. A hybrid model of the spatio-temporally continuous phytoplankton-zooplankton system with Holling type IV predator response but discrete agents like fish dynamics has been presented. The model has been investigated for plankton patch formation, which is known from natural plankton populations. Fish predation has a significant role in the temporal evolution of spatial pattern of phytoplankton-zooplankton system, which suggests that unstable diffusive system can be made stable by increasing the rate of fish predation and diffusivity constant to sufficiently large values.