We develop the qualitative theory of the solutions of the McKendrick partial differential equation of population dynamics. We calculate explicitly the weak solutions of the McKendrick equation and of the Lotka renewal integral equation with time and age dependent birth rate. Mortality modulus is considered age dependent. We show the existence of demography cycles. For a population with only one reproductive age class, independently of the stability of the weak solutions and after a transient time, the temporal evolution of the number of individuals of a population is always modulated by a time periodic function. The periodicity of the cycles is equal to the age of the reproductive age class, and a population retains the memory from the initial data through the amplitude of oscillations. For a population with a continuous distribution of reproductive age classes, the amplitude of oscillation is damped. The periodicity of the damped cycles is associated with the age of the first reproductive age class. Damping increases as the dispersion of the fertility function around the age class with maximal fertility increases. In general, the period of the demography cycles is associated with the time that a species takes to reach the reproductive maturity.

We propose a matrix population modelling approach in order to describe the dynamics of a grayling (Thymallus thymallus, L. 1758) population living in the Ain river (France). We built a Leslie like model, which integrates the climate changes in terms of temperature and discharge. First, we show how temperature and discharge can be related to life history traits like survival and reproduction. Second, we show how to use the population model to precisely examine the life cycle of grayling : estimated numbers of individuals at the beginning of the reproduction season, estimated number of individuals in summer, comparison between observed and simulated numbers of individuals. Finally, we discuss our results in the framework of the assessment of impact of possible climate changes on grayling populations.

We investigate the structure of travelling waves for a model of a fungal disease propagating over a vineyard. This model is based on a set of ODEs of the SIR-type coupled with two reaction-diffusion equations describing the dispersal of the spores produced by the fungus inside and over the vineyard. An estimate of the biological parameters in the model suggests to use a singular perturbation analysis. It allows us to compute the speed and the profile of the travelling waves. The analytical results are compared with numerical simulations.

We study a reaction-diffusion equation with an integral term describing nonlocal consumption of resources in population dynamics. We show that a homogeneous equilibrium can lose its stability resulting in appearance of stationary spatial structures. They can be related to the emergence of biological species due to the intra-specific competition and random mutations. Various types of travelling waves are observed.

We present models of the dynamics of phytoplankton aggregates. We start with an individual-based model in which aggregates can grow, divide, joint and move randomly. Passing to infinity with the number of individuals, we obtain a model which describes the space-size distribution of aggregates. The density distribution function satisfies a non-linear transport equation, which contains terms responsible for the growth of phytoplankton aggregates, their fragmentation, coagulation, and diffusion.

A large variety of complex spatio-temporal patterns emerge from the processes occurring in biological systems, one of them being the result of propagating phenomena. This wave-like structures can be modelled via reaction-diffusion equations. If a solution of a reaction-diffusion equation represents a travelling wave, the shape of the solution will be the same at all time and the speed of propagation of this shape will be a constant. Travelling wave solutions of reaction-diffusion systems have been extensively studied by several authors from experimental, numerical and analytical points-of-view. In this paper we focus on two reaction-diffusion models for the dynamics of the travelling waves appearing during the process of the cells aggregation. Using singular perturbation methods to study the structure of solutions, we can derive analytic formulae (like for the wave speed, for example) in terms of the different biochemical constants that appear in the models. The goal is to point out if the models can describe in quantitative manner the experimental observations.

An optimal control problem is studied for a Lotka-Volterra system of three differential equations. It models an ecosystem of three species which coexist. The species are supposed to be separated from each others. Mathematically, this is modeled with the aid of two control variables. Some necessary conditions of optimality are found in order to maximize the total number of individuals at the end of a given time interval.

We consider an ecosystem in which spiders may be transported by the wind from vineyards into the surrounding woods and vice versa. The model takes into account this tranport phenomenon without building space explicitly into the governing equations. The equilibria of the dynamical system are analyzed together with their stability, showing that bifurcations may occur. Then the effects of indiscriminated spraying to keep pests under control is also investigated via suitable simulations.