Dynamics of a predator-prey model with generalized Holling type functional response and mutual interference

Abstract: Mutual interference and prey refuge are important drivers of predator-prey dynamics. The "exponent" or degree of mutual interference has been under much debate in theoretical ecology. In the present work, we investigate the interplay of the mutual interference exponent, on the behavior of a predator-prey model with a generalized Holling type functional response. We investigate stability properties of the system and derive conditions for the occurrence of saddle-node and Hopf-bifurcations. A sufficient condition for extinction of the prey species has also been derived for the model. In addition, we investigate the effect of a prey refuge on the population dynamics of the model and derive conditions for the prey refuge that would yield persistence of populations. We provide additional verification our analytical results via numerical simulations. Our findings are in accordance with classical experimental results in ecology by Gauss G. F (1934), that show that extinction of predator and prey populations is possible in a finite time period - but that bringing in refuge can effectively cause persistence.