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Changes in abundance for emerging populations can develop according to several dynamic scenarios. After rapid biological invasions, the time factor for the development of a reaction from the biotic environment will become important. There are two classic experiments known in history with different endings of the confrontation of biological species. In Gause’s experiments with ciliates, the infused predator, after brief oscillations, completely destroyed its resource, so its $r$-parameter became excessive for new conditions. Its own reproductive activity was not regulated by additional factors and, as a result, became critical for the invader. In the experiments of the entomologist Uchida with parasitic wasps and their prey beetles, all species coexisted. In a situation where a population with a high reproductive potential is regulated by several natural enemies, interesting dynamic effects can occur that have been observed in phytophages in an evergreen forest in Australia. The competing parasitic hymenoptera create a delayed regulation system for rapidly multiplying psyllid pests, where a rapid increase in the psyllid population is allowed until the pest reaches its maximum number. A short maximum is followed by a rapid decline in numbers, but minimization does not become critical for the population. The paper proposes a phenomenological model based on a differential equation with a delay, which describes a scenario of adaptive regulation for a population with a high reproductive potential with an active, but with a delayed reaction with a threshold regulation of exposure. It is shown that the complication of the regulation function of biotic resistance in the model leads to the stabilization of the dynamics after the passage of the minimum number by the rapidly breeding species. For a flexible system, transitional regimes of growth and crisis lead to the search for a new equilibrium in the evolutionary confrontation.

Eco-epidemiological models provide insights into factors influencing disease transmission and host population stability. This study developed two eco-epidemiological models to investigate the impacts of prey refuge availability and an Allee effect on dynamics. Model A incorporated these mechanisms, while model B did not. Both models featured predator – prey and disease transmission and were analyzed mathematically and via simulation. Model equilibrium states were examined locally and globally under differing parameter combinations representative of environmental scenarios. Model A and B demonstrated globally stable conditions within certain parameter ranges, signalling refuge and Allee effect terms promote robustness. Moreover, model A showed a higher potential toward extinction of the species as a result of incorporating the Allee effect. Bifurcation analyses revealed qualitative shifts in behavior triggered by modifications like altered predation mortality. Model A manifested a transcritical bifurcation indicating critical population thresholds. Additional bifurcation types were noticed when refuge and Allee stabilizing impacts were absent in model B. Findings showed disease crowding effect and that host persistence is positively associated with refuge habitat, reducing predator – prey encounters. The Allee effect also calibrated stability via heightened sensitivity to small groups. Simulations aligned with mathematical predictions. Model A underwent bifurcations at critical predator death rates impacting prey outcomes. This work provides a valuable framework to minimize transmission given resource availability or demographic alterations, generating testable hypotheses.

To study nonlinear effects of biological species interactions numerical-analytical approach is being developed. The approach is based on the cosymmetry theory accounting for the phenomenon of the emergence of a continuous family of solutions to differential equations where each solution can be obtained from the appropriate initial state. In problems of mathematical ecology the onset of cosymmetry is usually connected with a number of relationships between the parameters of the system. When the relationships collapse families vanish, we get a finite number of isolated solutions instead of a continuum of solutions and transient process can be long-term, dynamics taking place in a neighborhood of a family that has vanished due to cosymmetry collapse.

We consider a model for spatiotemporal competition of predators or prey with an account for directed migration, Holling type II functional response and nonlinear prey growth function permitting Alley effect. We found out the conditions on system parameters under which there is linear with respect to population densities cosymmetry. It is demonstated that cosymmetry exists for any resource function in case of heterogeneous habitat. Numerical experiment in MATLAB is applied to compute steady states and oscillatory regimes in case of spatial heterogeneity.

The dynamics of three population interactions (two predators and a prey, two prey and a predator) are considered. The onset of families of stationary distributions and limit cycle branching out of equlibria of a family that lose stability are investigated in case of homogeneous habitat. The study of the system for two prey and a predator gave a wonderful result of species coexistence. We have found out parameter regions where three families of stable solutions can be realized: coexistence of two prey in absence of a predator, stationary and oscillatory distributions of three coexisting species. Cosymmetry collapse is analyzed and long-term transient dynamics leading to solutions with the exclusion of one of prey or extinction of a predator is established in the numerical experiment.

Our purpose is to study the spatio-temporal population wave behavior observed in the predator-prey system. It is assumed that predators move both directionally and randomly, and prey spread only diffusely. The model does not take into account demographic processes in the predator population; it’s total number is constant and is a parameter. The variables of the model are the prey and predator densities and the predator speed, which are connected by a system of three reaction – diffusion – advection equations. The system is considered on an annular range, that is the periodic conditions are set at the boundaries of the interval. We have studied the bifurcations of wave modes arising in the system when two parameters are changed — the total number of predators and their taxis acceleration coefficient.

The main research method is a numerical analysis. The spatial approximation of the problem in partial derivatives is performed by the finite difference method. Integration of the obtained system of ordinary differential equations in time is carried out by the Runge –Kutta method. The construction of the Poincare map, calculation of Lyapunov exponents, and Fourier analysis are used for a qualitative analysis of dynamic regimes.

It is shown that, population waves can arise as a result of existence of directional movement of predators. The population dynamics in the system changes qualitatively as the total predator number increases. А stationary homogeneous regime is stable at low value of parameter, then it is replaced by self-oscillations in the form of traveling waves. The waveform becomes more complicated as the bifurcation parameter increases; its complexity occurs due to an increase in the number of temporal vibrational modes. A large taxis acceleration coefficient leads to the possibility of a transition from multi-frequency to chaotic and hyperchaotic population waves. A stationary regime without preys becomes stable with a large number of predators.

We consider “predator – prey” model taking into account the competition of prey, predator for different from the prey resources, and their interaction described by the second type Holling trophic function. An analysis of the attractors is carried out depending on the coefficient of competition of predators. In the deterministic case, this model demonstrates the complex behavior associated with the local (Andronov –Hopf and saddlenode) and global (birth of a cycle from a separatrix loop) bifurcations. An important feature of this model is the disappearance of a stable cycle due to a saddle-node bifurcation. As a result of the presence of competition in both populations, parametric zones of mono- and bistability are observed. In parametric zones of bistability the system has either coexisting two equilibria or a cycle and equilibrium. Here, we investigate the geometrical arrangement of attractors and separatrices, which is the boundary of basins of attraction. Such a study is an important component in understanding of stochastic phenomena. In this model, the combination of the nonlinearity and random perturbations leads to the appearance of new phenomena with no analogues in the deterministic case, such as noise-induced transitions through the separatrix, stochastic excitability, and generation of mixed-mode oscillations. For the parametric study of these phenomena, we use the stochastic sensitivity function technique and the confidence domain method. In the bistability zones, we study the deformations of the equilibrium or oscillation regimes under stochastic perturbation. The geometric criterion for the occurrence of such qualitative changes is the intersection of confidence domains and the separatrix of the deterministic model. In the zone of monostability, we evolve the phenomena of explosive change in the size of population as well as extinction of one or both populations with minor changes in external conditions. With the help of the confidence domains method, we solve the problem of estimating the proximity of a stochastic population to dangerous boundaries, upon reaching which the coexistence of populations is destroyed and their extinction is observed.

The paper uses methods of mathematical modeling to estimate a zooplankton influence on the dynamics of phytoplankton abundance. We propose a three-component model of the “phytoplankton–zooplankton” community with discrete time, considering a heterogeneity of zooplankton according to the developmental stage and type of feeding; the model takes into account cannibalism in zooplankton community, during which mature individuals of some of its species consume juvenile ones. Survival rates at the early stages of zooplankton life cycle depend explicitly on the interaction between zooplankton and phytoplankton. Loss of phytoplankton biomass because of zooplankton consumption is explicitly considered. We use the Holling functional response of type II to describe saturation during biomass consumption. The dynamics of the phytoplankton community is represented by the Ricker model, which allows to take into account the restriction of phytoplankton biomass growth by the availability of external resources (mineral nutrition, oxygen, light, etc.) implicitly.

The study analyzed scenarios of the transition from stationary dynamics to fluctuations in the size of phytoand zooplankton for various values of intrapopulation parameters determining the nature of the dynamics of the species constituting the community, and the parameters of their interaction. The focus is on exploring the complex modes of community dynamics. In the framework of the model used for describing dynamics of phytoplankton in the absence of interspecific interaction, phytoplankton dynamics undergoes a series of perioddoubling bifurcations. At the same time, with zooplankton appearance, the cascade of period-doubling bifurcations in phytoplankton and the community as a whole is realized earlier (at lower reproduction rates of phytoplankton cells) than in the case when phytoplankton develops in isolation. Furthermore, the variation in the cannibalism level in zooplankton can significantly change both the existing dynamics in the community and its bifurcation; e.g., with a certain structure of zooplankton food relationships the realization of Neimark–Sacker bifurcation scenario in the community is possible. Considering the cannibalism level in zooplankton can change due to the natural maturation processes and achievement of the carnivorous stage by some individuals, one can expect pronounced changes in the dynamic mode of the community, i.e. abrupt transitions from regular to quasiperiodic dynamics (according to Neimark–Sacker scenario) and further cycles with a short period (the implementation of period halving bifurcation).

The paper deals with a prey-predator model, which describes the spatiotemporal dynamics of plankton community and the nutrients. The system is described by reaction-diffusion-advection equations in a onedimensional vertical column of water in the surface layer. Advective term of the predator equation represents the vertical movements of zooplankton with velocity, which is assumed to be proportional to the gradient of phytoplankton density. This study aimed to determine the conditions under which these movements (taxis) lead to the spatially heterogeneous structures generated by the system. Assuming diffusion coefficients of all model components to be equal the instability of the system in the vicinity of stationary homogeneous state with respect to small inhomogeneous perturbations is analyzed.

Necessary conditions for the flow-induced instability were obtained through linear stability analysis. Depending on the local kinetics parameters, increasing the taxis rate leads to Turing or wave instability. This fact is in good agreement with conditions for the emergence of spatial and spatiotemporal patterns in a minimal phytoplankton–zooplankton model after flow-induced instabilities derived by other authors. This mechanism of generating patchiness is more general than the Turing mechanism, which depends on strong conditions on the diffusion coefficients.

While the taxis exceeding a certain critical value, the wave number corresponding to the fastest growing mode remains unchanged. This value determines the type of spatial structure. In support of obtained results, the paper presents the spatiotemporal dynamics of the model components demonstrating Turing-type pattern and standing wave pattern.

We have studied properties of non-linear waves in a mathematical model of a predator – prey system with taxis. We demonstrate that, for systems with negative and positive taxis there typically exists a large region in the parameter space, where the waves demonstrate quasi-soliton interaction; colliding waves can penetrate through each other, and waves can also reflect from impermeable boundaries. In this paper, we use numerical simulations to demonstrate also a new wave phenomenon — a half-soliton interaction of waves, when of two colliding waves, one annihilates and the other continues to propagate. We show that this effect depends on the «ages» or, equivalently, «widths» of the colliding waves.

The paper studies the influence of selective harvest on dynamic modes of the «predator–prey» community with age structure for prey. We use a slight modification of the Nicholson-Bailey model to describe the interaction between predator and prey. We assume the prey population size is regulated by a decrease in survival rate of juvenile with an increase in the size of age class. The aim is to study the mechanisms of formation and evolution of dynamic modes for the structured «predator–prey» community model due to selective harvesting. We considered the cases when a harvest of some part of predator or prey population or one of the prey’s age classes is realized. The conditions of stable coexistence of interacting species and scenarios of the occurrence of oscillatory modes of abundance are studied. It is shown the harvesting of only young individuals of prey or simultaneous removal of young and adult individuals leads to expansion of parameter space domain with stable dynamics of prey population both with and without a predator. At the same time, the bistability domain narrows, in which changing initial conditions leads to the predator either remains in the community or dies from lack of food. In the case of the harvest for prey adult individuals or predator, the predator preservation in the community is ensured by high values of the prey birth rate, moreover bistability domain expands. With the removal of both juvenile preys and predators, an increase in the survival rates of adult prey leads to stabilization of the community dynamics. The juveniles’ harvest can lead to damping of oscillations and stabilize the prey dynamics in the predator absence. Moreover, it can change the scenario of the coexistence of species — from habitation of preys without predators to a sustainable coexistence of both species. The harvest of some part of predator or prey or the prey’s older age class can lead to both oscillations damping and stable dynamics of the interacting species, and to the destruction of the community, that is, to the death of predator.

The paper investigates the dynamics of a finite-dimensional model describing the interaction of three populations: prey $x(t)$, its consuming predator $y(t)$, and a superpredator $z(t)$ that feeds on both species. Mathematically, the problem is formulated as a system of nonlinear first-order differential equations with the following right-hand side: $[x(1-x)-(y+z)g;\,\eta_1^{}yg-d_1^{}f-\mu_1^{}y;\,\eta_2^{}zg+d_2^{}f-\mu_2^{}z]$, where $\eta_j^{}$, $d_j^{}$, $\mu_j^{}$ ($j=1,\,2$) are positive coefficients. The considered model belongs to the class of cosymmetric dynamical systems under the Lotka\,--\,Volterra functional response $g=x$, $f=yz$, and two parameter constraints: $\mu_2^{}=d_2^{}\left(1+\frac{\mu_1^{}}{d_1^{}}\right)$, $\eta_2^{}=d_2^{}\left(1+\frac{\eta_1^{}}{d_1^{}}\right)$. In this case, a family of equilibria is being of a straight line in phase space. We have analyzed the stability of the equilibria from the family and isolated equilibria. Maps of stationary solutions and limit cycles have been constructed. The breakdown of the family is studied by violating the cosymmetry conditions and using the Holling model $g(x)=\frac x{1+b_1^{}x}$ and the Beddington–DeAngelis model $f(y,\,z)=\frac{yz}{1+b_2^{}y+b_3^{}z}$. To achieve this, the apparatus of Yudovich's theory of cosymmetry is applied, including the computation of cosymmetric defects and selective functions. Through numerical experimentation, invasive scenarios have been analyzed, encompassing the introduction of a superpredator into the predator-prey system, the elimination of the predator, or the superpredator.