An optimal control problem for a pest, predator, and plant system

The paper is devoted to an optimal control problem for a system of three nonlinear parabolic equations from population dynamics. The equations model a trophic chain consisting of a predator, a pest and a plant species. The existence and uniqueness of the positive solution for the system are proved. The control variable is connected with the action of a pesticide. Our goal is to minimize the density of the pest and to maximize the plant density. The existence of the optimal solution is proved. The first and second order optimality conditions are established.