Uniqueness and stability of positive steady state solutions for a ratio-dependent predator–prey system with a crowding term in the prey equation

This paper deals with a ratio-dependent predator–prey system with a crowding term in the prey equation, where it is assumed that the coefficient of the functional response is less than the coefficient of the intrinsic growth rates of the prey species. We demonstrate some special behaviors of solutions to the system which the coexistence states of two species can be obtained when the crowding region in the prey equation only is designed suitably. Furthermore, we demonstrate that under some conditions, the positive steady state solution of the predator–prey system with a crowding term in the prey equation is unique and stable. Our result is different from those ones of the predator–prey systems without the crowding terms.     

HARVESTING A TWO-PATCH PREDATOR-PREY METAPOPULATION

ABSTRACT. A mathematical model for a two-patch predator-prey metapoplation is developed as a generalization of single-species metapopulation harvesting theory. We find optimal harvesting strategies using dynamic programming and La-grange multipliers. If predator economic efficiency is relatively high, then we should protect a relative source prey subpopulation in two different ways: directly, with a higher escapement of the relative source prey subpopulation, and indirectly, with a lower escapement of the predator living in the same patch as the relative source prey subpopulation. Numerical examples show that if the growth of the predator is relatively low and there is no difference between prey and predator prices, then it may be optimal to harvest the predator to extinction. While, if the predator is more valuable compared to the prey, then it may be optimal to leave the relative exporter prey subpopulation unharvested. We also discuss how a ‘negative’ harvest might be optimal. A negative harvest might be considered a seeding strategy.     

A foraging problem: Sit-and-wait versus active predation

The literature on foraging shows that some predators use a combination of ambush and active search to locate a prey. Let us suppose that a prey must go every day to some determined places to feed, and to another place, 0, to drink. A predator can stay at zone 0 waiting for the prey (sit-and-wait strategy) or it can move between the different places where the prey will go to eat (search strategy). If predator and prey meet each other in the same place, prey will be caught with a probability depending on the place. We study this problem in different situations, modelling them as two-person zero-sum games. We solve them in closed form, giving optimal strategies for prey and for predator and the value of the games.     

Conjugate coupling in ecosystems: Cross-predation stabilizes food webs

We study the dynamics of two predator–prey systems that are coupled via cross-predation, in which each predator consumes also the other prey. This setup constitutes a model system in which conjugate coupling emerges naturally and denotes the transition from two separate food chains to a food web. We show that cross-predation of a certain strength leads to amplitude death stabilizing the food web in a new equilibrium.     

A Leslie–Gower predator–prey model with disease in prey incorporating a prey refuge

In this paper, a predator–prey Leslie–Gower model with disease in prey has been developed. The total population has been divided into three classes, namely susceptible prey, infected prey and predator population. We have also incorporated an infected prey refuge in the model. We have studied the positivity and boundedness of the solutions of the system and analyzed the existence of various equilibrium points and stability of the system at those equilibrium points. We have also discussed the influence of the infected prey refuge on each population density. It is observed that a Hopf bifurcation may occur about the interior equilibrium taking refuge parameter as bifurcation parameter. Our analytical findings are illustrated through computer simulation using MATLAB, which show the reliability of our model from the eco-epidemiological point of view.     

Effect of emergent carrying capacity in an eco‐epidemiological system

The paper explores an eco‐epidemiological model of a predator–prey type, where the prey population is subject to infection. The model is basically a combination of S‐I type model and a Rosenzweig–MacArthur predator–prey model. The novelty of this contribution is to consider different competition coefficients within the prey population, which leads to the emergent carrying capacity. We explicitly separate the competition between non‐infected and infected individuals. This emergent carrying capacity is markedly different to the explicit carrying capacities that have been considered in many eco‐epidemiological models. We observed that different intra‐class and inter‐class competition can facilitate the coexistence of susceptible prey‐infected prey–predator, which is impossible for the case of the explicit carrying capacity model. We also show that these findings are closely associated with bi‐stability. The present system undergoes bi‐stability in two different scenarios: (a) bi‐stability between the planner equilibria where susceptible prey co‐exists with predator or infected prey and (b) bi‐stability between co‐existence equilibrium and the planner equilibrium where susceptible prey coexists with infected prey; have been discussed. The conditions for which the system is to be permanent and the global stability of the system around disease‐free equilibrium are worked out. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Classical predator–prey system with infection of prey population—a mathematical model

The present paper deals with the problem of a classical predator–prey system with infection of prey population. A classical predator–prey system is split into three groups, namely susceptible prey, infected prey and predator. The relative removal rate of the susceptible prey due to infection is worked out. We observe the dynamical behaviour of this system around each of the equilibria and point out the exchange of stability. It is shown that local asymptotic stability of the system around the positive interior equilibrium ensures its global asymptotic stability. We prove that there is always a Hopf bifurcation for increasing transmission rate. To substantiate the analytical findings, numerical experiments have been carried out for hypothetical set of parameter values. Our analysis shows that there is a threshold level of infection below which all the three species will persist and above which the disease will be epidemic. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of predator mutual interference and prey refuge on Lotka–Volterra predator–prey dynamics

A Lotka–Volterra predator–prey model incorporating a constant number of prey using refuges and mutual interference for predator species is presented. By applying the divergency criterion and theories on exceptional directions and normal sectors, we show that the interior equilibrium is always globally asymptotically stable and two boundary equilibria are both saddle points. Our results indicate that prey refuge has no influence on the coexistence of predator and prey species of the considered model under the effects of mutual interference for predator species, which differently from the conclusion without predator mutual interference, thus improving some known ones. Numerical simulations are performed to illustrate the validity of our results.     

Coexistence and stability of predator-prey model with Beddington-DeAngelis functional response and stage structure

We present a predator-prey model of Beddington-DeAngelis type functional response with stage structure on prey. The constant time delay is the time taken from birth to maturity about the prey. By the uniform persistence theories and monotone dynamic theories, sharp threshold conditions which are both necessary and sufficient for the permanence and extinction of the model as well as the sufficient conditions for the global stability of the coexistence equilibria are obtained. Biologically, it is proved that the variation of prey stage structure can affect the permanence of the system and drive the predator into extinction by changing the prey carrying capacity: Our results suggest that the predator coexists with prey permanently if and only if predator's recruitment rate at the peak of prey abundance is larger than its death rate; and that the predator goes extinct if and only if predator's possible highest recruitment rate is less than or equal to its death rate; furthermore, our results also show that a sufficiently large mutual interference by predators can stabilize the system.     

Modelling a predator–prey system with infected prey in polluted environment

A predator–prey model with logistic growth in prey is modified by introducing an SIS parasite infection in the prey. We have studied the combined effect of environmental toxicant and disease on prey–predator system. It is assumed in this paper that the environmental toxicant affects both prey and predator population and the infected prey is assumed to be more vulnerable to the toxicant and predation compared to the sound prey individuals. Thresholds are identified which determine when system persists and disease remains endemic.