Motivated by models from evolutionary population dynamics, we study a general class of nonlinear difference equations called matrix models. Under the assumption that the projection matrix is non-negative and irreducible, we prove a theorem that establishes the global existence of a continuum with positive equilibria that bifurcates from an extinction equilibrium at a value of a model parameter at which the extinction equilibrium destabilizes. We give criteria for the global shape of the continuum, including local direction of bifurcation and its relationship to the local stability of the bifurcating positive equilibria. We discuss a relationship between backward bifurcations and Allee effects. Illustrative examples are given

Matrix population models are discrete in both time and state-space, where a matrix with density-dependent entries is used to project a population vector of a stage-structured population from one time to the next. Such models are useful for modeling populations with discrete categorizations (e.g. developmental cycles, communities of multiple species, differing sizes, etc.). We present a general matrix model of two interacting populations where one (the resident) has a stable cycle, and we analyze when the other population (the invader) can successfully invade. Specifically, we study the local bifurcations of coexistence cycles as the resident cycle destabilizes, where a cycle of length 1 corresponds to an equilibrium. We make no assumptions on the types of interactions between the populations or on the population structure of the resident; we consider when the invader's projection matrix is primitive or imprimitive and 2x2. The simplest biological scenarios for such structures are an iteroparous invader and a two-stage semelparous invader. When the invader has a primitive projection matrix, coexistence cycles (of the same period as the resident cycle) bifurcate from the resident-cycle. When the invader has an imprimitive two-stage projection matrix, two types of coexistence cycles bifurcate from the resident-cycle: cycles of the same period and cycles of double the period. In both the primitive and imprimitive cases, we provide diagnostic quantities to determine the direction of bifurcation and the stability of the bifurcating cycles. Because we only perform a local stability analysis, the only successful invasion provided by our results is through stable coexistence cycles. As we show in some simple examples, however, the invader may persist when the coexistence cycles are unstable through competitive exclusion where the branch of bifurcating cycles connects to a branch of invader attractors and creates a multi-attractor scenario known as a strong Allee effect.