Endogenous Feedback in Size-Structured Transport Equations

Abstract

We study a nonlinear size-structured transport equation where the endogenous scalar output $E(t)=\int_{l_0}^{l_m}χ(l)x(t,l)\,dl$ feeds back into velocity and mortality. This principal-coefficient feedback precludes a semilinear perturbation framework. Freezing the feedback path yields a non-autonomous linear evolution, reducing the closed-loop problem to a scalar Volterra fixed point $E=\mathcal K(E)$. Mass balance provides an intrinsic feedback interval, while a Bielecki-norm contraction ensures unique nonnegative weak solutions. Stationary equilibria satisfy a scalar closure equation $E=Φ(E)$. We prove uniqueness below the sharp margin $1-Φ'(E)>0$ and identify $Φ'(E)=1$ as a nondegenerate fold threshold. Linearization yields a finite-memory renewal equation with characteristic equation $\mathcal E(λ)=1$, whose root set determines the feedback spectrum and stability. Finally, the stationary harvesting adjoint reduces to a rank-one perturbation formula. At zero discount, we establish the identity $\mathcal E(0)=Φ'(E^*)=B(0)$, linking closure resonance, spectral crossing, and adjoint loop gain.