Stability, delay, and chaotic behavior in a Lotka-Volterra predator-prey system

Abstract

We consider the following Lotka-Volterra predator-prey system with two delays: x '( t ) = x ( t ) [ r(1) - ax ( t - tau(1) ) - by( t ) ] y '( t ) = y ( t ) [ - r(1) + cx ( t ) - dy( t - tau(2) ) ] ( E ) We show that a positive equilibrium of system ( E ) is globally asymptotically stable for small delays. Critical values of time delay through which system ( E ) undergoes a Hopf bifurcation are analytically determined. Some numerical simulations suggest an existence of subcritical Hopf bifurcation near the critical values of time delay. Further system (E) exhibits some chaotic behavior when tau(2) becomes large.