A PDE model for the spatial dynamics of a voles population structured in age

Abstract

We prove existence and stability of entropy weak solutions for a macroscopic PDE model for the spatial dynamics of a population of voles structured in age. The model consists of a scalar PDE depending on time, t, age, a, and space x=(x1,x2), supplemented with a non-local boundary condition at a=0. The flux is linear with constant coefficient in the age direction but contains a non-local term in the space directions. Also, the equation contains a term of second order in the space variables only. Existence of solutions is established by compensated compactness, see Panov (2009), and we prove stability by a doubling of variables type argument.