An optimal error bound for a finite element approximation of spatially extended predator-prey interaction model (Q2192580)

The paper is concerned with the formulation and analysis of the method for the numerical solution of the nonlinear system of PDEs modelling predator-prey interactions with the Holling type II functional response. The method uses a nonlinear scheme for the temporal discretization and the finite element method for the spatial discretization. The main result of the paper is a derivation of the optimal error bound in time for the proposed method. Moreover, the method presented in the paper leads to the optimal error bound in time also for the linearized time scheme from [\textit{M. R. Garvie} and \textit{C. Trenchea}, Numer. Math. 107, No. 4, 641--667 (2007; Zbl 1132.65092)]. To confirm the theoretical results, the authors present numerical experiments for one- and two-dimensional problems.