Dual fear phenomenon in an eco-epidemiological model with prey aggregation

TL;DR

This paper analyzes an eco-epidemiological model incorporating prey aggregation, predator-induced fear, and disease dynamics, revealing complex bifurcation behaviors and the potential for prey extinction due to fear effects, with implications for disease management.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive eco-epidemiological model with dual fear effects and prey aggregation, analyzing bifurcations and extinction phenomena with numerical simulations.

Findings

Fear can cause prey extinction in finite time.

Multiple bifurcations occur around endemic states.

Fear-based management strategies can influence disease transmission.

Abstract

This study presents a thorough analysis of an eco-epidemiological model that integrates infectious diseases in prey, prey aggregation, and the dual fear effect induced by predators. We establish criteria for determining the existence of equilibrium points, which carry substantial biological significance. We establish the conditions for the occurrence of Hopf, saddle-node, and transcritical bifurcations by employing fear parameters as key bifurcation parameters. Furthermore, through numerical simulations, we demonstrate the occurrence of multiple zero-Hopf (ZH) and saddle-node transcritical (SNTC) bifurcations around the endemic steady states by varying specific key parameters across the two-parametric plane. We demonstrate that the introduction of predator-induced fear, which hinders the growth rate of susceptible prey, can lead to the finite time extinction of an initially stable susceptible prey population. Finally, we discuss management strategies aimed at regulating disease transmission, focusing on fear-based interventions and selective predation via predator attack rate on infectious prey.