Effect of the Fear Factor and Prey Refuge in an Asymmetric Predator–Prey Model

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of fear, refuge, and migration in a predator–prey model, where the interactions between the species follow an asymmetric function response. In contrast to some other findings, we propose that prey develop an anti-predator response in response to a concentration of predators, which in turn increases the fear factor of the predators. The conditions under which all ecologically meaningful equilibrium points exist are discussed in detail. The local and global dynamics of the model are determined at all equilibrium points. The model admits several interesting results by changing the rate of fear of predators and predator aggregate sensitivity. Numerical simulations have been performed to verify our theoretical findings. We found that under certain conditions, the system appears to be losing the stability to acquire the periodic attractor when the trait-mediated direct effect of one of each (prey growth, competition, fear, and prey death).