The Dynamics of Pasture–Herbivores–Carnivores with Sigmoidal Density Dependent Harvesting

Abstract

We investigate biomass–herbivore–carnivore (top predator) interactions in terms of a tritrophic dynamical systems model. The harvesting rates of the herbivores and the top predators are described by means of a sigmoidal function of the herbivores density and the top predator density, respectively. The main focus in this study is on the dynamics as a function of the natural mortality and the maximal harvesting rate of the top predators. We identify parameter regimes for which we have non-existence of equilibrium points as well as necessary conditions for the existence of such states of the modelling framework. The system does not possess any finite equilibrium states in the regime of high herbivore mortality. In the regime of a high consumption rate of the herbivores and low mortality rates of the top predator, an asymptotically stable finite equilibrium state exists. For this positive equilibrium to exist the mortality of the top predator should not exceed a certain threshold level. We also detect regimes producing coexistence of equilibrium states and their respective stability properties. In the regime of negligible harvesting of the top predator level, we observe a finite window of the natural top predator mortality rates for which oscillations in the top predator-, the herbivore- and the biomass level take place. The lower and upper bound of this window correspond to two Hopf bifurcation points. We also identify a bifurcation diagram using the top predator harvesting rate as a control variable. Using this diagram we detect several saddle node- and Hopf bifurcation points as well as regimes for which we have coexistence of interior equilibrium states, bistability and relaxation type of oscillations.