Hunting cooperation among slowly diffusing specialist predators can induce stationary Turing patterns

Abstract

In this work we consider the spatio-temporal extension of a class of prey–predator models with hunting cooperation in the specialist predator population. Three different types of parametrization of functional response are used and the corresponding pattern formation scenario has been studied analytically with supportive numerical simulations. The main outcome of this work is that lower diffusivity of predator than the prey can lead to generation of stationary Turing patterns like spots, stripes and mixture of the two. Other non-Turing patterns like spirals and spatio-temporal chaos are also generated for parameter values outside the Turing domain and vividly discussed. Dispersal of the specialist predator lower than the diffusivity of the prey supports the formation of stationary patches as the hunting cooperation among the predators can support the success in predation.