A novel second-order nonstandard finite difference method preserving dynamical properties of a general single-species model

Abstract

In this paper, we extend the Mickens' methodology to construct a second-order nonstandard finite difference (NSFD) method, which preserves dynamical properties including positivity, local asymptotic stability and especially, global asymptotic stability of a general single-species model. This NSFD method is based on a novel weighted non-local approximation of the right-hand side function in combination with the renormalization of the denominator function. The weight guarantees the dynamic consistency and the nonstandard denominator function ensures the convergence of order 2 of the NSFD method. The result is that we obtain a second-order and dynamically consistent NSFD method. It is proved that the NSFD method is simple and efficient and can be extended for solving a broad range of mathematical models arising in real-world applications. Also, we combine the constructed second-order NSFD method with Richardson's extrapolation technique to generate high-order numerical approximations. Finally, the theoretical findings are illustrated and supported by numerical experiments.