Saddle-node--transcritical interactions in a stressed predator-prey-nutrient system

Abstract

We examine the interaction of transcritical and saddle-node bifurcations in a predator-prey-nutrient system that is stressed by the presence of a toxicant affecting the prey. This model, formulated by Kooi et al. ( Ecol. Model. 212(2008), 304--318), has a two-dimensional invariant sub system with zero predator density. In the sub system, a pair of prey-nutrient equilibria is created in a saddle-node bifurcation, while predator invasion in modelled by a transcritical bifurcation of one of this pair. Interactions of these bifurcations at codimension-two points give rise to bistable, periodic and heteroclinic predator-prey-nutrient dynamics. We explain why the the codimension-two points are numerically detected as cusp and Bogdanov-Takens points when using standard test functions and propose a new test function for systems with codimension one trancritical curves.