Dynamics of a diffusive mussel-algae system in closed advective environments.

In this paper, we are concerned with a diffusive system modeling the interaction of mussel and algae in the water layer overlying the mussel bed, where the algae are the main food source for mussels, and the advection pushes algaes in one direction but not out of the domain. We present a threshold result on the global extinction and persistence of mussels. It shows that the condition for persistence depends on the principal eigenvalue of a scalar boundary value problem, which is related to the diffusion, the speed of the tidal flow, the conversion rate of algae to mussel production, and mussel mortality rate. We further investigate the asymptotic profile of the positive steady state when it exists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]