A dominant predator, a predator, and a prey (Q932459)

A two-predator, one-prey model in which one predator interferes significantly with the other predator is analyzed. The dominant predator is harvested and the other predator has an alternative food source. The response functions used are Holling type II and they are predator-dependent and include the effects of interference. The analysis centers on bifurcation diagrams for various levels of interference in which the harvesting is the primary bifurcation parameter. It is shown that there are different attractors for the high-interference and no-interference cases and these are discussed within an ecological context. A motivation for studying this problem is to help to understand the reasons for the depletion of cod in the North Atlantic.