Predation-induced dispersal toward fitness for predator invasion in predator–prey models

Abstract

In this paper, we consider a predator–prey model with nonuniform predator dispersal, called predation-induced dispersal (PID), which represents predator motility depending on the maximal predation rate and the predator death rate in a spatially heterogeneous region. We study the local stability of the semitrivial steady state when predators are absent for models with PID and linear dispersal. We then investigate the local/global bifurcation from the semitrivial steady state of these models. Finally, we compare the results of the model with PID to the results of the model with linear dispersal. We conclude that the nonuniform dispersal of predators obeying PID increases fitness for predator invasion when rare; thus, predators with PID can invade a region with an increased probability even in cases wherein predators dispersed linearly cannot invade a certain region. Based on the results, we provide an ecological interpretation with the simulations.