On a periodic predator--prey system with time delays (Q878467)

The author considers the following delayed predator-prey model with Holling type-II functional response and periodic coefficients \[ \begin{aligned} \dot N_1(t)&= N_1(t) \left[a_1(t)-b_1(t)\int_{-\infty}^{t}k(t-s)N_1(s)\,ds- \frac{c(t)N_2(t-\tau(t))}{1+mN_1(t)}\right],\\ \dot N_2(t)&= N_2(t) \left[-a_2(t)+\frac{b_2(t)N_1(t-\tau(t))}{1+mN_1(t-\tau(t))} \right], \end{aligned}\tag{1} \] where \(N_1(t)\) and \(N_2(t)\) represent the densities of the prey and the predator at time \(t\), respectively. \(m\) is a positive constant representing the half capturing saturation rate, \(a_1\in C(\mathbb R,\mathbb R), a_2,b_1, b_2, c,\tau\in C(\mathbb R,\mathbb R^+)\) are \(T\)-periodic functions; \(k(s):\mathbb R^+\rightarrow\mathbb R^+\) is a measurable normalized function such that \(\int_{0}^{\infty}k(s)\,ds=1.\) By using the continuation theorem of coincidence degree theory developed by \textit{R. E. Gaines} and \textit{J. L. Mawhin} [Coincidence degree and nonlinear differential equations. Berlin: Springer-Verlag (1977; Zbl 0339.47031)], sufficient conditions are derived for the existence of positive periodic solutions to system (1).