Delay-induced instability in a nutrient-phytoplankton system with flow

In this paper, a nutrient-phytoplankton system described by a couple of advection-diffusion-reaction equations with delay was studied analytically and numerically. The aim of this research was to provide an understanding of the impact of delay on instability. Significantly, delay cannot only induce instability, but can also promote the formation of spatial pattern via a Turing-like instability. In addition, the theoretical analysis indicates that the flow (advection term) may lead to instability when the delay term exists. By comparison, diffusion cannot result in Turing instability when flow does not exist. Results of numerical simulation were consistent with the analytical results.