A dynamical system with Hopf bifurcations and catastrophes (Q1115375)

Consider the differential system \[ (*)\quad dx/dt=x[r(1-x/k)- by/c(a+x)],\quad dy/dt=y[bx/(a+x)-d-z/(h+y)] \] as approximation of a simple food chain (x prey, y predator, z superpredator considered as control parameters). The authors show that the dynamics of (*) is richer than that one for \(z=0\) (only two Kolmogorov modes). There is a parameter region such that steady state and periodic state hysterese phenomena arise with respect to z as bifurcation parameter.