Q. J. A. Khan
Department of Mathematics & Statistics, College of Science,
Sultan Qaboos University, P. Box 36, PC - 123, Muscat,
Sultanate of Oman
B. S. Bhatt
Department Of Mathematics & Computer Science
The University Of The West Indies, St. Augustine,
Trindad & Tobago
R. P. Jaju
Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science,
University Of Swaziland, P Bag 4, Kwaluseni,
Swaziland (Southern Africa)
A Mathematical model with one prey species living in two different habitats and a predator where a prey exhibits group defense is studied. The prey species is able to migrate between two different habitats due to change in seasonal conditions. The stability analysis is carried out for a critical point of the system where all species co-exist. Using rate of conversion of the prey to predator as bifurcation parameter, conditions for a Hopf bifurcation to occur are derived. It is shown numerically that predatory rate increases at low population density of prey species, has not always stabilizing effect for the prey-predator system.