Global qualitative analysis of a predator–prey system with Allee effect on the prey species

Abstract

In this paper, the Allee effect is incorporated into a predator–prey model with linear functional response. Compared with the predator–prey model without the Allee effect, it is found that the Allee effect of the prey species increases the extinction risk of both the prey and predator. If the Allee effect of the prey species is strong and the mortality of the predator species is relatively low, then the prey and predator cannot coexist after the predator invasion. Moreover, it is shown that the model with Allee effect undergoes the heteroclinic loop bifurcation and subcritical and supercritical Hopf bifurcations. With the brokenness of the heteroclinic loop, a stable or unstable limit cycle will appear. The Allee effect of the prey species can lead to unstable or stable periodic fluctuations. It is also found that the positive equilibrium of the model could change from stable to unstable, and then disappear when the strength of Allee effect increases continuously from zero.