Dynamics of an intraguild predation food web model with strong Allee effect in the basal prey

Since intraguild predation (IGP) is a ubiquitous and important community module in nature and Allee effect has strong impact on population dynamics, in this paper we propose a three-species IGP food web model consisted of the IG predator, IG prey and basal prey, in which the basal prey follows a logistic growth with strong Allee effect. We investigate the local and global dynamics of the model with emphasis on the impact of strong Allee effect. First, positivity and boundedness of solutions are studied. Then existence and stability of the boundary and interior equilibria are presented and the Hopf bifurcation curve at an interior equilibrium is given. The existence of a Hopf bifurcation curve indicates that if competition between the IG prey and IG predator for the basal resource lies below the curve then the interior equilibrium remains stable, while if it lies above the curve then the interior equilibrium loses its stability. In order to explore the impact of Allee effect, the parameter space is classified into sixteen different regions and, in each region, the number of interior equilibria is determined and the corresponding bifurcation diagrams on the Allee threshold are given. The extinction parameter regions of at least one species and the necessary coexistence parameter regions of all three species are provided. In addition, we explore possible dynamical patterns, i.e., the existence of multiple attractors. By theoretical analysis and numerical simulations, we show that the model can have one (i.e. extinction of all species), two (i.e. bi-stability) or three (i.e. tri-stability) attractors. It is also found by simulations that when there exists a unique stable interior equilibrium, the model may generate multiple attracting periodic orbits and the coexistence of all three species is enhanced as the competition between the IG prey and IG predator for the basal resource is close to the Hopf bifurcation curve from below. Our results indicate that the intraguild predation food web model exhibits rich and complex dynamic behaviors and strong Allee effect in the basal prey increases the extinction risk of not only the basal prey but also the IG prey or/and IG predator.     

Chaotic effects on disease spread in simple eco-epidemiological system

In this paper, an eco-epidemiological model where prey disease is structured as a susceptible-infected model is investigated. Thresholds that control disease spread and population persistence are obtained. Existence, stability and instability of the system are studied. Hopf bifurcation is shown to occur where a periodic solution bifurcates from the coexistence equilibrium. Simulations show that the system exhibits chaotic phenomena when the transmission rate is varied.     

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.     

STABILITY ANALYSIS OF A LOTKA-VOLTERRA COMMENSAL SYMBIOSIS MODEL INVOLVING ALLEE EFFECT

In this paper, we present a stability analysis of a Lotka-Volterra commensal symbiosis model subject to Allee effect on the unaffected population which occurs at low population density. By analyzing the Jacobian matrix about the positive equilibrium, we show that the positive equilibrium is locally asymptotically stable. By applying the differential inequality theory, we show that the system is permanent, consequently, the boundary equilibria of the system is unstable. Finally, by using the Dulac criterion, we show that the positive equilibrium is globally stable. Although Allee effect has no influence on the final densities of the predator and prey species, numeric simulations show that the system subject to an Allee effect takes much longer time to reach its stable steady-state solution, in this sense that Allee effect has unstable effect on the system, however, such an effect is controllable. Such an finding is greatly different to that of the predator-prey model.     

食饵带疾病的捕食模型的全局稳定性

本文研究了一类三维生态传染病模型的正解性和边界性,并分析了系统平衡点的局部稳定性。利用一种新的几何方法,获得了内平衡点的全稳定性,推广了Li和Muldowney[1]提出的这种方法的应用,这种方法避免了寻找Lyapunov的困难。     

Dynamics of a single species evolutionary model with Allee effects

We investigate the evolutionary outcomes of a single species population subject to Allee effects within the framework of a continuous strategy evolutionary game theory (EGT) model. Our model assumes a single trait creates a phenotypic trade-off between carrying capacity (i.e., competition) and predator evasion ability following a Gaussian distribution. This assumption contributes to one of our interesting findings that evolution prevents extinction even when population exhibits strong Allee effects. However, the extinction equilibrium can be an ESS under some special distributions of anti-predation phenotypes. The ratio of variation in competition and anti-predation phenotypes plays an important role in determining global dynamics of our EGT model: (a) evolution may suppress strong Allee effects for large values of this ratio; (b) evolution may preserve strong Allee effects for small values of this ratio by generating a low density evolutionary stable strategy (ESS) equilibrium which can serve as a potential Allee threshold; and (c) intermediate values of this ratio can result in multiple ESS equilibria.     

Control of chaotic behaviour and prevention of extinction using constant proportional feedback

We study a strategy to control the dynamics of one dimensional discrete maps known as the proportional feedback control method. We completely characterize the maps for which it is possible to stabilize the unstable or even chaotic dynamics towards an asymptotically stable equilibrium employing this method.Additionally, under conditions commonly assumed in modelling population dynamics, we show that the strategy drives the system to the optimal situation from a practical point of view, that is, to a global stable equilibrium since in that case the basin of attraction covers all the possible initial conditions. We also show that in some situations the strategy can be used to prevent the extinction of the population when controlling some models with the Allee effect.     

Complex dynamics of a discrete predator–prey model with the prey subject to the Allee effect

In this paper, complex dynamics of the discrete predator–prey model with the prey subject to the Allee effect are investigated in detail. Firstly, when the prey intrinsic growth rate is not large, the basins of attraction of the equilibrium points of the single population model are given. Secondly, rigorous results on the existence and stability of the equilibrium points of the model are derived, especially, by analyzing the higher order terms, we obtain that the non-hyperbolic extinction equilibrium point is locally asymptotically stable. The existences and bifurcation directions for the flip bifurcation, the Neimark–Sacker bifurcation and codimension-two bifurcations with 1:2 resonance are derived by using the center manifold theorem and the bifurcation theory. We derive that the model only exhibits a supercritical flip bifurcation and it is possible for the model to exhibit a supercritical or subcritical Neimark–Sacker bifurcation at the larger positive equilibrium point. Chaos in the sense of Marotto is proved by analytical methods. Finally, numerical simulations including bifurcation diagrams, phase portraits, sensitivity dependence on the initial values, Lyapunov exponents display new and rich dynamical behaviour. The analytic results and numerical simulations demonstrate that the Allee effect plays a very important role for dynamical behaviour.     

The chaos and control of a food chain model supplying additional food to top-predator

The control and management of chaotic population is one of the main objectives for constructing mathematical model in ecology today. In this paper, we apply a technique of controlling chaotic predator–prey population dynamics by supplying additional food to top-predator. We formulate a three species predator–prey model supplying additional food to top-predator. Existence conditions and local stability criteria of equilibrium points are determined analytically. Persistence conditions for the system are derived. Global stability conditions of interior equilibrium point is calculated. Theoretical results are verified through numerical simulations. Phase diagram is presented for various quality and quantity of additional food. One parameter bifurcation analysis is done with respect to quality and quantity of additional food separately keeping one of them fixed. Using MATCONT package, we derive the bifurcation scenarios when both the parameters quality and quantity of additional food vary together. We predict the existence of Hopf point (H), limit point (LP) and branch point (BP) in the model for suitable supply of additional food. We have computed the regions of different dynamical behaviour in the quantity–quality parametric plane. From our study we conclude that chaotic population dynamics of predator prey system can be controlled to obtain regular population dynamics only by supplying additional food to top predator. This study is aimed to introduce a new non-chemical chaos control mechanism in a predator–prey system with the applications in fishery management and biological conservation of prey predator species.     

A discrete-time model with non-monotonic functional response and strong Allee effect in prey

In this paper, we investigate the impact of strong Allee effect on the stability of a discrete-time predator–prey model with a non-monotonic functional response. The dynamics of discrete-time predator–prey models with strong Allee effect is studied earlier. But, the mathematical investigations of predator–prey dynamics in discrete-time set up with Holling type-IV functional response and strong Allee effect in prey are lacking. The proposed model supports the coexistence of two steady states, and the mathematical features of the model are analyzed based on local stability and bifurcation theory. By considering the Allee parameter as the bifurcation parameter, we provide sufficient conditions for the flip and the Neimark–Sacker bifurcations. We observe that Allee parameter plays a significant role in the dynamics of the system.     

The impact of Allee effect on a predator–prey system with Holling type II functional response

In this paper, the Allee effect is incorporated into a predator–prey model with Holling type II functional response. Compared with the predator–prey model without Allee effect, we find that the Allee effect of prey species increases the extinction risk of both predators and prey. When the handling time of predators is relatively short and the Allee effect of prey species becomes strong, both predators and prey may become extinct. Moreover, it is shown that the model with Allee effect undergoes the Hopf bifurcation and heteroclinic bifurcation. The Allee effect of prey species can lead to unstable periodical oscillation. It is also found that the positive equilibrium of the model could change from stable to unstable, and then to stable when the strength of Allee effect or the handling time of predators increases continuously from zero, that is, the model admits stability switches as a parameter changes. When the Allee effect of prey species becomes strong, longer handling time of predators may stabilize the coexistent steady state.     

On an eco-epidemiological model with prey harvesting and predator switching: Local and global perspectives

In this paper, we study an eco-epidemiological model where prey disease is modeled by a Susceptible-Infected (SI) scheme. Saturation incidence kinetics is used to model the contact process. The predator population adapt switching technique among susceptible and infected prey. The prey species is supposed to be commercially viable and undergo constant non-selective harvesting. We study the stability aspects of the basic and the switching models around the infection-free state and the infected steady state from a local as well as a global perspective. Our aim is to study the role of harvesting and switching on the dynamics of disease propagation and/or eradication. A comparison of the local and global dynamical behavior in terms of important system parameters is obtained. Numerical simulations are done to illustrate the analytical results.     

Dynamical study of fractional order differential equations of predator‐pest models

To explore the impact of pest‐control strategy through a fractional derivative, we consider three predator‐prey systems by simple modification of Rosenzweig‐MacArthur model. First, we consider fractional‐order Rosenzweig‐MacArthur model. Allee threshold phenomena into pest population is considered for the second case. Finally, we consider additional food to the predator and harvesting in prey population. The main objective of the present investigation is to observe which model is most suitable for the pest control. To achieve this goal, we perform the local stability analysis of the equilibrium points and observe the basic dynamical properties of all the systems. We observe fractional‐order system has the ability to stabilize Rosenzweig‐MacArthur model with low pest density from oscillatory state. In the numerical simulations, we focus on the bistable regions of the second and third model, and we also observe the effect of the fractional order α throughout the stability region of the system. For the third model, we observe a saddle‐node bifurcation due to the additional food and Allee effect to the pest densities. Also, we numerically plot two parameter bifurcation diagram with respect to the harvesting parameter and fractional order of the system. We finally conclude that fractional‐order Rosenzweig‐MacArthur model and the modified Rosenzweig‐MacArthur model with additional food for the predator and harvested pest population are more suitable models for the pest management.     

Dynamics of a generalized Ricker–Beverton–Holt competition model subject to Allee effects

In this article, we propose and study a generalized Ricker–Beverton–Holt competition model subject to Allee effects to obtain insights on how the interplay of Allee effects and contest competition affects the persistence and the extinction of two competing species. By using the theory of monotone dynamics and the properties of critical curves for non-invertible maps, our analysis show that our model has relatively simple dynamics, i.e. almost every trajectory converges to a locally asymptotically stable equilibrium if the intensity of intra-specific competition intensity exceeds that of inter-specific competition. This equilibrium dynamics is also possible when the intensity of intra-specific competition intensity is less than that of inter-specific competition but under conditions that the maximum intrinsic growth rate of one species is not too large. The coexistence of two competing species occurs only if the system has four interior equilibria. We provide an approximation to the basins of the boundary attractors (i.e. the extinction of one or both species) where our results suggests that contest species are more prone to extinction than scramble ones are at low densities. In addition, in comparison to the dynamics of two species scramble competition models subject to Allee effects, our study suggests that (i) Both contest and scramble competition models can have only three boundary attractors without the coexistence equilibria, or four attractors among which only one is the persistent attractor, whereas scramble competition models may have the extinction of both species as its only attractor under certain conditions, i.e. the essential extinction of two species due to strong Allee effects; (ii) Scramble competition models like Ricker type models can have much more complicated dynamical structure of interior attractors than contest ones like Beverton–Holt type models have; and (iii) Scramble competition models like Ricker type competition models may be more likely to promote the coexistence of two species at low and high densities under certain conditions: At low densities, weak Allee effects decrease the fitness of resident species so that the other species is able to invade at its low densities; While at high densities, scramble competition can bring the current high population density to a lower population density but is above the Allee threshold in the next season, which may rescue a species that has essential extinction caused by strong Allee effects. Our results may have potential to be useful for conservation biology: For example, if one endangered species is facing essential extinction due to strong Allee effects, then we may rescue this species by bringing another competing species subject to scramble competition and Allee effects under certain conditions.     

Stochastic predator–prey model with Allee effect on prey

We study a predator–prey model with the Allee effect on prey and whose dynamics is described by a system of stochastic differential equations assuming that environmental randomness is represented by noise terms affecting each population. More specifically, we consider a term that expresses the variability of the growth rate of both species due to external, unpredictable events. We assume that the intensities of these perturbations are proportional to the population size of each species. With this approach, we prove that the solutions of the system have sample pathwise uniqueness and bounded moments. Moreover, using an Euler–Maruyama-type numerical method we obtain approximated solutions of the system with different intensities for the random noise and parameters of the model. In the presence of a weak Allee effect, we show that long-term survival of both populations can occur. On the other hand, when a strong Allee effect is considered, we show that the random perturbations may induce the non-trivial attracting-type invariant objects to disappear, leading to the extinction of both species. Furthermore, we also find the Maximum Likelihood estimators for the parameters involved in the model.     

一类疾病在食饵中传播的生态-传染病模型分析

分析并建立疾病在食饵中传播的生态-传染病模型,且考虑易感食饵具有常数输入,捕食者种群以Logistic模型增长,讨论了系统解的有界性和各平衡点的存在性,以及局部渐近稳定性,通过构造适当的Lyapunov函数分析了各平衡点的全局渐近稳定性,并运用比较定理证明了系统的持久性.     

Time delay factor can be used as a key factor for preventing the outbreak of a disease—Results drawn from a mathematical study of a one season eco-epidemiological model

Chatterjee and Chattopadhyay [Role of migratory bird population in an simple eco-epidemiological model, Math. Comp. Model. Dyn. Syst., in press] proposed and analyzed a one season eco-epidemiological model of susceptible and infective prey together with their predators. In such systems, time lags due to the gestation of the infective prey are of importance. In this paper we modify and analyze their model by taking this factor into consideration. Our analysis shows that the outbreak of the disease can be controlled by a careful and suitable increment of the time lag factor. Moreover, to preserve the stability of the coexisting equilibrium, the time lag factor plays an important role. To substantiate our analytical results, extensive numerical simulations are performed for a hypothetical set of parameter values.