A generalized Holling type II model for the interaction between dextral-sinistral snails and Pareas snakes

TL;DR

This paper develops a generalized Holling type II model to analyze the complex interactions between dextral and sinistral snails and Pareas snakes, highlighting the role of asymmetry in population dynamics and stability.

Contribution

It introduces a novel generalized functional response for Holling type II to incorporate bilateral asymmetry in predator-prey interactions.

Findings

Asymmetry degree influences population stability

Model predicts coexistence of dextral and sinistral snails

Stability varies with asymmetry and other parameters

Abstract

Pareatic snakes possess outstanding asymmetry in the mandibular tooth number, which has probably been caused by its evolution to improve the feeding on the predominant dextral snails. Gene mutation can generate chiral inversion on the snail body. A sinistral snail population can thrive in this ecological context. The interactions between dextral/sinistral snails and Pareas snakes are modeled in this paper by using a new generalized functional response of Holling type II. Distinct Pareas species show different bilateral asymmetry degrees. This parameter plays an essential role in our model and determines the evolution of the populations. Stability of the solutions is also analyzed for different regimes in the space of parameters.