Destabilization of synchronous periodic solutions for patch models: a criterion by period functions

Abstract

In this paper, we study the destabilization of synchronous periodic solutions for patch models. By applying perturbation theory for matrices, we derive asymptotic expressions of the Floquet spectra and provide a destabilization criterion for synchronous periodic solutions arising from closed orbits or degenerate Hopf bifurcations in terms of period functions. Finally, we apply the main results to the well-known two-patch Holling-Tanner model.