Competition of Two Host Species for a Single-Limited Resource Mediated by Parasites

Abstract

In this paper we consider a mathematical model of two host species competing for a single -limited resource mediated by parasites. Each host population is divided into susceptible and infective population. We assume that species 1 has the lowest break-even concentration with respect to nutrient, when there is no parasite. Thus species 1 is a superior competitor that outcompetes species 2. When parasites present, the competitive outcome is determined by the contact rate of the superior competitor. We analyze the model by finding the conditions for the existence of various equilibria and doing their stability analysis. Two bifurcation diagrams are presented. The first one is in $\beta_1$-$\beta_2$ plane (See Figure 3) and the second one is in $R^{(0)}$-line (See Figure 4).