Oscillatory and transient dynamics of a slow–fast predator–prey system with fear and its carry-over effect

Abstract

In almost every ecological system, growth of various interacting species evolve in different time scales and the implementation of this time scale difference in the corresponding mathematical model exhibits some rich and complex oscillatory dynamics. In this article, we consider a predator–prey model with Beddington–DeAngelis functional response in which the prey reproduction is affected by the predation induced fear and its carry-over effect. Considering the growth of prey species occurs on a faster time scale than that of predator, the proposed system reduces to a ‘slow–fast predator–prey’ system. Using the geometric singular perturbation theory and asymptotic expansion technique, we investigate the system both analytically and numerically, and observe a wide range of rich and complex dynamics such as canard cycles (with or without head) near the singular Hopf-bifurcation threshold and relaxation oscillation cycles. The system experiences a canard explosion through which a rapid transition from small amplitude limit cycle to large amplitude limit cycle occurs in a tiny parametric interval. These types of complex oscillatory dynamics are absent in non slow–fast systems. Furthermore, it is shown that the interplay between fear and its carry-over effect, and the variation of time scale parameter may lead to a regime shift of the oscillatory dynamics. We also study the impact of fear and its carry-over effect on the properties of long transient dynamics. Thus our study provides some valuable biological insights of a slow–fast predator–prey system which will aid in understanding the interplay between fear and its carry-over effect.