Complex dynamics of a diffusive predator–prey model with strong Allee effect and threshold harvesting

In this paper, complex dynamics of a diffusive predator–prey model is investigated, where the prey is subject to strong Allee effect and threshold harvesting. The existence and stability of nonnegative constant steady state solutions are discussed. The existence and nonexistence of nonconstant positive steady state solutions are analyzed to identify the ranges of parameters of pattern formation. Spatially homogeneous and nonhomogeneous Hopf bifurcation and discontinuous Hopf bifurcation are proved. These results show that the introduction of strong Allee effect and threshold harvesting increases the system spatiotemporal complexity. Finally, numerical simulations are presented to validate the theoretical results.     

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.     

Chaotic dynamics of a discrete prey–predator model with Holling type II

A discrete-time prey–predator model with Holling type II is investigated. For this model, the existence and stability of three fixed points are analyzed. The bifurcation diagrams, phase portraits and Lyapunov exponents are obtained for different parameters of the model. The fractal dimension of a strange attractor of the model was also calculated. Numerical simulations show that the discrete model exhibits rich dynamics compared with the continuous model, which means that the present model is a chaotic, and complex one.     

A discrete prey–predator model preserving the dynamics of a structurally unstable Lotka–Volterra model

Leslie's method to construct a discrete two dimensional dynamical system dynamically consistent with the Lotka–Volterra type of competing two species ordinary differential equations is applied in a newly extended manner for the Lotka–Volterra prey–predator system which is structurally unstable. We show that, independently of the time step size, the derived discrete prey–predator system is dynamically consistent with the continuous counterpart, keeping the nature of neutrally stable periodic orbit. Further, we show that the extended method to construct the discrete prey–predator system can provide a dynamically consistent model also for the logistic Lotka–Volterra one.     

Weak Allee effect in a predator–prey model involving memory with a hump

In this paper we consider a predator–prey system which has a factor that allows for a reduction in fitness due to declining population sizes, often termed an Allee effect. We study the influence of the weak Allee effect which is included in the prey equation and we determine conditions for the occurrence of Hopf bifurcation. The prey population is limited by the carrying capacity of the environment, and the predator growth rate depends on past quantities of the prey which is represented by a weight function that specifies a moment in the past when the quantity of food is the most important from the point of view of the present growth of the predator. The stability properties of the system and the biological issues of the memory and Allee effect on the coexistence of the two species are studied. Finally we present some simulations to verify the veracity of the analytical conclusions.     

Stability of a predator–prey model with refuge effect

We consider a predator–prey model, where some prey are completely free from predation within a temporal or spacial refuge. The most common type of spacial refuge, that we investigate here, takes the form where a constant proportion of the prey population is protected. The model is a modification of the classical Nicholson–Bailey host-parasitoid model. In this paper, we study the effect of the presence of refuge on the stability and bifurcation of the system. Moreover, we provide a detailed analysis of the Neimark–Sacker bifurcation of the model.     

Global dynamics of a predator–prey model with defense mechanism for prey

Recently, Venturino and Petrovskii proposed a general predator–prey model with group defense for prey species (Venturino and Petrovskii, 2013). The local dynamics had been studied and showed that the model might undergo Hopf bifurcation, and have an extinction domain. In this paper, we dedicate ourselves to the investigation of the global dynamics of the model by establishing the conditions of the nonexistence of periodic orbits, and the existence and uniqueness of limit cycles.     

Dynamical complexity induced by Allee effect in a predator–prey model

In this paper, we investigate the complex dynamics induced by Allee effect in a predator–prey model. For the non-spatial model, Allee effect remains the boundedness of positive solutions, and it also induces the model to exhibit one or two positive equilibria. Especially, in the case with strong Allee effect, the model is bistable. For the spatial model, without Allee effect, there is the nonexistence of diffusion-driven instability. And in the case with Allee effect, the positive equilibrium can be unstable under certain conditions. This instability is induced by Allee effect and diffusion together. Furthermore, via numerical simulations, the model dynamics exhibits both Allee effect and diffusion controlled pattern formation growth to holes, stripe–hole mixtures, stripes, stripe–spot mixtures, and spots replication. That is to say, the dynamics of the model with Allee effect is not simple, but rich and complex.     

Rich dynamical behaviours for predator–prey model with weak Allee effect

The weak Allee effect on the predator is introduced into the classic predator–prey model of Lotka–Volterra type. Global qualitative and bifurcation analyses are combined to determine the global dynamics of the model. It is shown that the weak Allee effect can bring rich and complicated dynamics to the previous simple model, such as the saddle–node bifurcation, subcritical and supercritical Hopf bifurcations, and Bogdanov–Takens bifurcations, implying that weak Allee effect can be one of the simple reasons for many complicated behaviours in the predator–prey communities.     

Two limit cycles in a Leslie–Gower predator–prey model with additive Allee effect

In this work, a bidimensional continuous-time differential equations system is analyzed which is derived from Leslie type predator–prey schemes by considering a nonmonotonic functional response and Allee effect on population prey. For ecological reason, we describe the bifurcation diagram of limit cycles that appear only at the first quadrant in the system obtained. We also show that under certain conditions over the parameters, the system allows the existence of a stable limit cycle surrounding an unstable limit cycle generated by Hopf bifurcation. Furthermore, we give conditions over the parameters such that the model allows long-term extinction or survival of both populations.     

Dynamics of predator–prey models with a strong Allee effect on the prey and predator-dependent trophic functions

The complex dynamics of a two-trophic chain are investigated. The chain is described by a general predator–prey system, in which the prey growth rate and the trophic interaction functions are defined only by some properties determining their shapes. To account for undercrowding phenomena, the prey growth function is assumed to model a strong Allee effect; to simulate the predator interference during the predation process, the trophic function is assumed predator-dependent. A stability analysis of the system is performed, using the predation efficiency and a measure of the predator interference as bifurcation parameters. The admissible scenarios are much richer than in the case of prey-dependent trophic functions, investigated in Buffoni et al. (2011). General conditions for the number of equilibria, for the existence and stability of extinction and coexistence equilibrium states are determined, and the bifurcations exhibited by the system are investigated. Numerical results illustrate the qualitative behaviours of the system, in particular the presence of limit cycles, of global bifurcations and of bistability situations.     

Dynamical complexities in the Leslie–Gower predator–prey model as consequences of the Allee effect on prey

This work deals with the analysis of a predator–prey model derived from the Leslie–Gower type model, where the most common mathematical form to express the Allee effect in the prey growth function is considered.     

Global dynamics of a predator–prey model with time delay and stage structure for the prey

A stage-structured predator–prey system with Holling type-II functional response and time delay due to the gestation of predator is investigated. By analyzing the characteristic equations, the local stability of each of feasible equilibria of the system is discussed and the existence of a Hopf bifurcation at the coexistence equilibrium is established. By means of the persistence theory on infinite dimensional systems, it is proven that the system is permanent if the coexistence equilibrium exists. By using Lyapunov functionals and LaSalle invariant principle, it is shown that the trivial equilibrium is globally stable when both the predator-extinction equilibrium and the coexistence equilibrium are not feasible, and that the predator-extinction equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable if the coexistence equilibrium does not exist, and sufficient conditions are derived for the global stability of the coexistence equilibrium. Numerical simulations are carried out to illustrate the main theoretical results.     

On the dynamics of a predator–prey model with nonconstant death rate and diffusion

The main goal of this paper is to describe the global dynamic of a predator–prey model with nonconstant death rate and diffusion. We obtain necessary and sufficient conditions under which the system is dissipative and permanent. We study the global stability of the nontrivial equilibrium, when it is unique. Finally, we show that there are no nontrivial steady state solutions for certain parameter configuration.     

Multiple stability and uniqueness of the limit cycle in a Gause-type predator–prey model considering the Allee effect on prey

In this work, a bidimensional differential equation system obtained by modifying the well-known predator–prey Rosenzweig–MacArthur model is analyzed by considering prey growth influenced by the Allee effect.One of the main consequences of this modification is a separatrix curve that appears in the phase plane, dividing the behavior of the trajectories. The results show that the equilibrium in the origin is an attractor for any set of parameters. The unique positive equilibrium, when it exists, can be either an attractor or a repeller surrounded by a limit cycle, whose uniqueness is established by calculating the Lyapunov quantities. Therefore, both populations could either reach deterministic extinction or long-term deterministic coexistence.The existence of a heteroclinic curve is also proved. When this curve is broken by changing parameter values, then the origin turns out to be an attractor for all orbits in the phase plane. This implies that there are plausible conditions where both populations can go to extinction. We conclude that strong and weak Allee effects on prey population exert similar influences on the predator–prey model, thereby increasing the risk of ecological extinction.     

Codimension-two bifurcation analysis of a discrete predator–prey model with nonmonotonic functional response

In this paper, we investigate dynamical behaviours of a discrete predator–prey model with nonmonotonic functional response. Codimension-2 bifurcations associated with 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4 resonances are analyzed by using bifurcation theory. Codimension-2 bifurcation diagrams, maximum Lyapunov exponents diagrams and phase portraits, which not only illustrate the validity of the theoretical results but also display some interesting complex dynamical behaviours, are obtained by numerical simulations.     

Dynamics of a delayed predator–prey model with predator migration

Based on the availability of prey and a simple predator–prey model, we propose a delayed predator–prey model with predator migration to describe biological control. We first study the existence and stability of equilibria. It turns out that backward bifurcation occurs with the migration rate as bifurcation parameter. The stability of the trivial equilibrium and the boundary equilibrium is delay-independent. However, the stability of the positive equilibrium may be delay-dependent. Moreover, delay can switch the stability of the positive equilibrium. When the positive equilibrium loses stability, Hopf bifurcation can occur. The direction and stability of Hopf bifurcation is derived by applying the center manifold method and the normal form theory. The main theoretical results are illustrated with numerical simulations.     

Spatiotemporal dynamics of a Leslie–Gower predator–prey model incorporating a prey refuge

In this paper, we investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of a two-dimensional predator–prey model, which is based on a modified version of the Leslie–Gower scheme incorporating a prey refuge. We establish a Lyapunov function to prove the global stability of the equilibria with diffusion and determine the Turing space in the spatial domain. Furthermore, we perform a series of numerical simulations and find that the model dynamics exhibits complex Turing pattern replication: stripes, cold/hot spots-stripes coexistence and cold/hot spots patterns. The results indicate that the effect of the prey refuge for pattern formation is tremendous. This may enrich the dynamics of the effect of refuge on the predator-prey systems.