A model for hydranth regeneration in Tubularia

Pigment distribution presages hydranth regeneration in the marine hydroid Tubularia. We suggest that such a distribution could result from a reaction-diffusion system. A model system based on a practical reaction scheme is studied and spatial structures found which closely resemble this pigment distribution. Finite-amplitude spatial structures in reaction-diffusion systems are considered. Whereas in one spatial dimension the final structures are normally very similar to the transient patterns which emerge from a linear analysis, it is shown that in more than one dimension this is not necessarily the case. The reasons for this are discussed.