Dynamical complexity of a predator-prey model with a prey refuge and Allee effect

Abstract

We consider a predator-prey model with a non-monotonic functional response encompassing a prey refuge and a strong Allee effect on the prey. The multiple existence and stability of interior equilibria are investigated. The bifurcation analysis shows this model can exhibit numerous kinds of bifurcations (e.g., saddle-node, Hopf-Andronov and Bogdanov-Takens bifurcations). It is found that there exist diverse parameter values for which the model exhibits a limit cycle, a homoclinic orbit, and even many heteroclinic curves. The results obtained reveal the prey refuge in the model brings rich dynamics and makes the system more sensitive to parameter values. The main purpose of the present work is to offer a complete mathematical analysis of the effect that the refuge brings about.