Spreading speed revisited: Analysis of a free boundary model

Abstract

We investigate, from a more ecological point of view, a free bound- ary model considered in [11] and [8] that describes the spreading of a new or invasive species, with the free boundary representing the spreading front. We derive the free boundary condition by considering a "population loss" at the spreading front, and correct some mistakes regarding the range of spreading speed in [11]. Then we use numerical simulation to gain further insights to the model, which may help to determine its usefulness in concrete ecological situations. © American Institute of Mathematical Sciences.