Hopf bifurcation in a memory-based diffusion competition model with spatial heterogeneity

Abstract: In this paper, we investigate a Lotka-Volterra competition-diffusion system with self-memory effects and spatial heterogeneity under Dirichlet boundary conditions. We focus on how memory strength influences the coexistence and stability of competing species. By analyzing the characteristic equation, we establish the existence and stability of a spatially nonhomogeneous positive steady state and demonstrate the occurrence of Hopf bifurcation as memory delay increases. Our results reveal that both weak and some opposing memory effects of two competing species promote stable coexistence, while strong memory may destabilize the system and lead to periodic oscillations. Spatial heterogeneity further enriches the dynamical behaviors. Numerical simulations are presented to confirm the theoretical results.