Dynamics of additional food provided predator–prey system with mutually interfering predators

• Published in: Mathematical biosciences 2013-11, Vol.246 (1), p.176-190
• Main Authors: Prasad, B.S.R.V., Banerjee, Malay, Srinivasu, P.D.N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Additional food; Animals; Beddington–DeAngelis; Biological control; Food Chain; Functional response; Models, Biological; Mutual interference; Predatory Behavior - physiology; Predator–prey
• ISSN: 0025-5564; 1879-3134
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2013.08.013

•Predators functional response is assumed to be of Beddington–DeAngelis Type.•Dynamics investigated treating mutual interference as a parameter.•High mutual interference between predators save prey from extinction.•Low mutual interference between predators favours biological control.•Investigated controllability by treating additional food properties as parameters. Use of additional/alternative food source to predators is one of the widely recognised practices in the field of biological control. Both theoretical and experimental works point out that quality and quantity of additional food play a vital role in the controllability of the pest. Theoretical studies carried out previously in this direction indicate that incorporating mutual interference between predators can stabilise the system. Experimental evidence also point out that mutual interference between predators can affect the outcome of the biological control programs. In this article dynamics of additional food provided predator–prey system in the presence of mutual interference between predators has been studied. The mutual interference between predators is modelled using Beddington–DeAngelis type functional response. The system analysis highlights the role of mutual interference on the success of biological control programs when predators are provided with additional food. The model results indicate the possibility of stable coexistence of predators with low prey population levels. This is in contrast to classical predator–prey models wherein this stable co-existence at low prey population levels is not possible. This study classifies the characteristics of biological control agents and additional food (of suitable quality and quantity), permitting the eco-managers to enhance the success rate of biological control programs.