Rich dynamics of a vegetation–water system with the hydrotropism effect

Abstract

In recent years, with the abnormal global climate change, the problem of desertification has become more and more serious. The vegetation pattern is accompanied by desertification, and thus, the study of the vegetation pattern is helpful to better understand the causes of desertification. In this work, we reveal the influences of hydrotropism on the vegetation pattern based on a vegetation–water system in the form of reaction–diffusion equations. Parameter ranges for the steady-state mode obtained by analyzing the system show the dynamic behavior near the bifurcation point. Furthermore, we found that vegetation hydrotropism not only induces spatial pattern generation but also promotes the growth of vegetation itself in this area. Therefore, through the study of vegetation patterns, we can take corresponding preventive measures to effectively prevent land desertification and improve the stability of the ecosystem in the region.