How many species can two essential resources support?

Authors
Citation
Bt. Li et H. Smith, How many species can two essential resources support?, SIAM J A MA, 62(1), 2001, pp. 336-366
Citations number
42
Categorie Soggetti
Mathematics
Journal title
SIAM JOURNAL ON APPLIED MATHEMATICS
ISSN journal
00361399 → ACNP
Volume
62
Issue
1
Year of publication
2001
Pages
336 - 366
Database
ISI
SICI code
0036-1399(20011002)62:1<336:HMSCTE>2.0.ZU;2-T
Abstract
A chemostat model of n species of microorganisms competing for two perfectl y complementary, growth-limiting nutrients is considered. Sufficient condit ions are given for there to be a single winning species and for two species to coexist, driving the others to extinction. In the case when n=3, it is shown that every solution converges to one of the single-species or two-spe cies steady states, and hence the dynamics of the model is completely deter mined. The results generalize those of Hsu, Cheng, and Hubbell [SIAM J. App l. Math., 41 (1981), pp. 422-444] as well as Butler and Wolkowicz [Math. Bi osci., 83 (1987), pp. 1-48] who considered two species.