Dynamics of reaction–diffusion–advection system and its impact on river ecology in the presence of spatial heterogeneity

This study considers a two-species reaction–diffusion–advection (RDA) model in a heterogeneous advective environment with zero Neumann boundary conditions. We suppose that two species compete for the same food resource but have different diffusion and advection rates. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the global asymptotic stability and coexistence of steady state based on different and unequal diffusion and advection rates through theoretical and numerical analysis. We establish the local stability of two semi-trivial steady states of the competing species. Also, the non-existence of coexistence steady state is proved with the help of some non-trivial assumptions. Finally, we show the global stability with the help of monotone dynamical systems and combine the local stability and non-existence of coexistence steady state. If one species adopts a smaller diffusion and advection rate, the competition’s result depends on the advection and diffusion rate ratio. If the ratio is smaller, then the species will prevail. Also, the species with higher diffusion and smaller advection will win. Lastly, the effectiveness of the model in one and two-dimensional situations is shown by a series of numerical calculations, which is particularly important for environmental consideration.