Dynamical complexity of a spatial phytoplankton-zooplankton model with an alternative prey and refuge effect

The spatiotemporal dynamics of a phytoplankton-zooplankton model with an alternative prey and refuge effect is investigated mathematically and numerically. the stability of the equilibrium point and the traveling wave solution of the phytoplankton-zooplankton model are described based on theoretical mathematical work,which provides the basis of the numerical simulation. the numerical analysis shows that refuges have a strong effect on the spatiotemporal dynamics of the model according to the pattern formation. these results may help us to understand prey-predator interactions in water ecosystems. they are also relevant to research into phytoplankton-zooplankton ecosystems. © 2013 weiwei zhang and min zhao.