Dynamics in two nonsmooth predator–prey models with threshold harvesting

Abstract

Considering a good pest control program should reduce the pest to levels acceptable to the public, we investigate the threshold harvesting policy on pests in two predator–prey models. Both models are nonsmooth and the aim of this paper is to provide how threshold harvesting affects the dynamics of the two systems. When the harvesting threshold is larger than some positive level, the harvesting does not affect the ecosystem; when the harvesting threshold is less than the level, the model has complex dynamics with multiple coexistence equilibria, limit cycle, bistability, homoclinic orbit, saddle-node bifurcation, transcritical bifurcation, subcritical and supercritical Hopf bifurcation, Bogdanov–Takens bifurcation, and discontinuous Hopf bifurcation. Firstly, we provide the complete stability analysis and bifurcation analysis for the two models. Furthermore, some numerical simulations are given to illustrate our results. Finally, it is found that harvesting lowers the level of both species for natural enemy–pest system while raises the densities of both species for the pest–crop system. It is seen that the threshold harvesting policy of the enemy system is more effective than the crop system.