A delay-diffusion model of marine plankton ecosystem exhibiting cyclic nature of blooms.

The cyclic nature of blooms is a very interesting characteristic of marine plankton ecosystem. Release of toxins by some phytoplanktons has an important role on planktonic interactions and hence on regulating the blooms. A mathematical model describing the phytoplankton-zooplankton interaction with these characteristics is studied. The time needed for liberation of toxins by phytoplanktons is considered. To account for the spatial heterogeneity of an aquatic environment, diffusivity of different plankton populations is also incorporated into the system. Stability and bifurcation behaviour of different steady states are analysed.