Dynamical complexity in a delayed Plankton-Fish model with alternative food for predators

The present manuscript deals with a 3-D food chain ecological model incorporating three species phytoplankton, zooplankton, and fish. To make the model more realistic, we include predation delay in the fish population due to the vertical migration of zooplankton species. We have assumed that additional food is available for both the predator population, viz., zooplankton, and fish. The main motive of the present study is to analyze the impact of available additional food and predation delay on the plankton-fish dynamics. The positivity and boundedness (with and without delay) are proved to make the system biologically valid. The steady states are determined to discuss the stability behavior of non-delayed dynamics under certain conditions. Considering available additional food as a control parameter, we have estimated ranges of alternative food for maintaining the sustainability and stability of the plankton-fish ecosystem. The Hopf-bifurcation analysis is carried out by considering time delay as a bifurcation parameter. The predation delay includes complexity in the system dynamics as it passes through its critical value. The direction of Hopf-bifurcation and stability of bifurcating periodic orbits are also determined using the centre manifold theorem. Numerical simulation is executed to validate theoretical results.