Temporal Symmetry and Bifurcation in Mussel–Fish Farm Dynamics with Distributed Delays

We develop and analyze a distributed-delay model for nutrient–fish–mussel dynamics in multitrophic aquaculture systems. Extending the classical discrete-delay framework, we incorporate gamma-distributed kernels to capture the time-distributed nature of nutrient assimilation, yielding a more realistic and analytically tractable representation. These kernels introduce a form of temporal symmetry in the system’s memory, where past nutrient levels influence present dynamics in a balanced and structured way. Using the linear chain trick, we reformulate the integro-differential equations into ordinary differential systems for both weak and strong memory scenarios. We derive conditions for local stability and Hopf bifurcation, and establish global stability using Lyapunov-based methods. Numerical simulations confirm that increased delay can destabilize the system, leading to oscillations, while stronger memory mitigates this effect and enhances resilience. Bifurcation diagrams, time series, and phase portraits illustrate how memory strength governs the system’s dynamic response. This work highlights how symmetry in memory structures contributes to system robustness, offering theoretical insights and practical implications for the design and management of ecologically stable aquaculture systems.