Spatial pattern formation driven by the cross-diffusion in a predator–prey model with Holling type functional response

Abstract

In this paper, we consider a cross-diffusion predator–prey system with Holling type functional response. We study the local stability, Turing instability, spatial pattern formation, Hopf and Turing–Hopf bifurcation of the equilibrium. Numerical simulation with zero-flux boundary conditions discloses that the system under consideration experiences the occurrence of cross-diffusion-driven instability. The dynamical system in Turing space emerges spots, stripe-spot mixtures and labyrinthine patterns, which reveals that the interaction of both self- and cross-diffusions play a significant role on the pattern formation of the present system in a way to enrich the pattern. We obtain the normal form of the Turing–Hopf bifurcation and observe that the system has stably spatially homogeneous periodic solutions, stable constant and nonconstant steady-state solutions, which indicates that the intrinsic growth rate coefficient and the environmental carrying capacity coefficient are two important factors for predator–prey system, and affect the stability of predator–prey system.