Chaos emergence and dissipation in a three-species food web model with intraguild predation and cooperative hunting

Abstract

We explore the dynamics of a three-species Lotka-Volterra model incorporating intraguild (IG) predation. The model encompasses interactions between a basal prey, intraguild prey and omnivorous top/intraguild predator. These interactions are characterized by linear functional responses, while considering intraspecific competition and cooperative hunting dynamics. The study involves a comprehensive stability of different steady states and bifurcation analysis. Bifurcation structures unveil shifts in equilibrium stability and the emergence of new equilibrium states. Investigation into dynamics around the coexistence equilibrium highlights diverse behaviors, including stable coexistence, oscillations and chaos. Furthermore, exploration of species' densities under parameter variations uncovers distinct patterns, ranging from stability to chaos. Incorporating the concept of hunting cooperation among IG predators and IG prey can lead to the emergence or suppression of chaotic oscillations, respectively. Additionally, we observe that lower consumption rate of IG predator and cooperation of IG predator helps the system to keep in a stable state position.

Keywords

• food web
• intraguild predation
• hunting cooperation
• chaos
• stability
• bifurcations