On a delayed invasive species model with harvesting (Q6568795)

This paper considers the system of equations \N\[\N\left\{\begin{aligned} P'(t)&= a P(t)\left(1-\frac{P(t)}{T(t)}\right),\\\NR'(t)&= cR(t)\left(1-\frac{R(t)}{T(t)}\right),\\\NT'(t)&= \frac{b}{1+ f R(t-\tau)}T(t-\tau)\left(1-\frac{T(t-\tau)}{M}\right) - hP(t) \end{aligned}\right. \N\]\Nwith positive parameters \(a,b,c,f,h\) and delay \(\tau\), modeling the dynamics of an ecosystem of people (\(P\)), rats (\(R\)), and trees (\(T\)). This model aims to shed light on the dynamics behind Easter Island's ecological collapse. The delay \(\tau\) reflects the maturation time for trees.\N\NFirst, the biologically relevant equilibrium points are calculated and criteria for their existence are given. Then the most desired, rat-free equilibrium is studied. Using the Mikhailov criterion for quasi-polynomials, the stability of this equilibrium is considered. Furthermore, they show that if the rat-free equilibrium is asymptotically stable in absence of the delay, then there exists a critical delay at which this equilibrium loses its stability and a periodic solution appears in a Hopf bifurcation. They also calculate the first Poincaré-Lyapunov constant, whose sign determines the criticality of the bifurcation.\N\NA numerical example is also given, illustrating the theoretical findings.