Modelling and analysis of a modified May-Holling-Tanner predator-prey model with Allee effect in the prey and an alternative food source for the predator.

In the present study, we have modified the traditional May-Holling-Tanner predator-prey model used to represent the interaction between least-weasel and field-vole population by adding an Allee effect (strong and weak) on the field-vole population and alternative food source for the weasel population. It is shown that the dynamic is different from the original May-Holling-Tanner predator-prey interaction since new equilibrium points have appeared in the first quadrant. Moreover, the modified model allows the extinction of both species when the Allee effect (strong and weak) on the prey is included, while the inclusion of the alternative food source for the predator shows that the system can support the coexistence of the populations, extinction of the prey and coexistence and oscillation of the populations at the same time. Furthermore, we use numerical simulations to illustrate the impact that changing the predation rate and the predator intrinsic growth rate have on the basin of attraction of the stable equilibrium point or stable limit cycle in the first quadrant. These simulations show the stabilisation of predator and prey populations and/or the oscillation of these two species over time.

Dynamics of a modified Leslie-Gower predation model considering a generalist predator and the hyperbolic functional response.

In the ecological literature,many models for the predator-prey interactions have been well formulated but partially analyzed.Assuming this analysis to be true and complete,some authors use that results to study a more complex relationship among species (food webs).Others employ more sophisticated mathematical tools for the analysis,without further questioning.The aim of this paper is to extend,complement and enhance the results established in an earlier article referred to a modified Leslie-Gower model.In that work,the authors proved only the boundedness of solutions,the existence of an attracting set,and the global stability of a single equilibrium point at the interior of the first quadrant.In this paper,new results for the same model are proven,establishing conditions in the parameter space for which up two positive equilibria exist.Assuming there exists a unique positive equilibrium point,we have proved,the existence of:i) a separatrix curve Σ,dividing the trajectories in the phase plane,which can have different ω-limit,ii) a subset of the parameter space in which two concentric limit cycles exist,the innermost unstable and the outermost stable.Then,there exists the phenomenon of tri-stability,because simultaneously,it has:a local stable positive equilibrium point, a stable limit cycle,and an attractor equilibrium point over the vertical axis.Therefore,we warn the model studied have more rich and interesting properties that those shown that earlier papers.Numerical simulations and a bifurcation diagram are given to endorse the analytical results.

Bifurcations and multistability on the May-Holling-Tanner predation model considering alternative food for the predators.

In this paper a modified May-Holling-Tanner predator-prey model is analyzed, considering an alternative food for predators, when the quantity of prey i scarce. Our obtained results not only extend but also complement existing ones for this model, achieved in previous articles. The model presents rich dynamics for different sets of the parameter values; it is possible to prove the existence of: (i) a separatrix curve on the phase plane dividing the behavior of the trajectories, which can have different ω-limit; this implies that solutions nearest to that separatrix are highly sensitive to initial conditions, (ii) a homoclinic curve generated by the stable and unstable manifolds of a saddle point in the interior of the first quadrant, whose break generates a non-infinitesimal limit cycle, (iii) different kinds of bifurcations, such as: saddle-node, Hopf, Bogdanov-Takens, homoclinic and multiple Hopf bifurcations. (iv) up to two limit cycles surrounding a positive equilibrium point, which is locally asymptotically stable. Thus, the phenomenon of tri-stability can exist, since simultaneously can coexist a stable limit cycle, joint with two locally asymptotically stable equilibrium points, one of them over the y-axis and the other positive singularity. Numerical simulations supporting the main mathematical outcomes are shown and some of their ecological meanings are discussed.