Migration-driven benefit in a two-species nutrient taxis system

TL;DR

This paper analyzes a two-species nutrient taxis model showing that the motile species gains a long-term competitive advantage through movement, regardless of differences in growth or nutrient absorption rates.

Contribution

It provides a mathematical proof that motility confers a competitive edge in nutrient competition, highlighting the importance of movement in ecological dynamics.

Findings

Motile species outcompetes non-motile under certain conditions.

Long-term advantage is independent of proliferation and uptake rates.

Movement is a key factor in competitive success.

Abstract

A model describing the competition of two species for a common nutrient is studied. It is assumed that one of the competitors is motionless while the other has the ability to move upwards gradients of the nutrient density. It is proved that under suitable assumptions on the initial data, in the long time perspective the ability to move turns out to be a crucial feature providing competitive advantage irrespectively of a possible difference between the species with regard to their rates of proliferation and nutrient uptake.