A diffusive predator-prey model with a protection zone (Q855798)

The authors have studied the effects of a protection zone for the prey in a predator-prey model with Holling II response to predation. The relationship between the size and geometry of the protection zone and the persistence of prey has been investigated. The study shows that there is a critical patch size for the protection zone, determined by the prey growth rate, so that above this size, the protection zone guarantees the survival of the prey species regardless of the predator growth rate, while below this critical size, extinction of the prey species is possible.