Explaining multiple patches of aquatic vegetation through linear stability analysis

Abstract Aquatic vegetation is ubiquitous in lowland rivers, and it typically present the shape of spatial self-organized patches biomass. In this work, we mathematically define threshold conditions for incipient formation vegetated patterns central or multiple row patches. The analysis carried out through a linear stability whereby 2D eco-hydrodynamic model linearized growth rate small-scale perturbations evaluated considering basic state represented by an initially uniformly straight channel having certain aspect ratio Froude number. Results illustrate that, given properties, instability arises when both number are higher than threshold; case, self-organization occurs, will develop according to wavelength associated maximum rate. Moreover, take place undisturbed density lower upper bound; suggests that densely channels, as case rivers populated invasive species, not experience any patterns.