 Solution

The four nonnegative equilibria are $0,a_1,a_2,a_3$. Since all factors are positive below $a_1$, the sign of $h(N)$ on consecutive intervals isThe phase line therefore points away from zero, towards $a_1$, away from $a_2$, and towards $a_3$. Equivalently $h^{\prime }(0)=a_1{a}_2{a}_3>0$, and at each simple positive root $a_i$, $h^{\prime }(a_i)=-a_i{\prod }_{j\ne i}(a_j-a_i)$. Their signs alternate negative, positive, negative.

Hence extinction and $a_2$ are unstable, while $a_1$ and $a_3$ are asymptotically stable. Initial positive populations below $a_2$ tend to $a_1$; those above $a_2$ tend to $a_3$; an initial population exactly at $a_2$ remains there. This is bistability with a threshold separating the two basins.