Impact of the Allee Effect on the Dynamics of a Predator-Prey Model Exhibiting Group Defense

The Allee effect and group defense are two naturally occurring phenomena in the prey species of a predator-prey system. This research paper examines the impact of integrating the Allee effect on the dynamics of a predator-prey model, including a density-dependent functional response that reflects the defensive strategies of the prey population. Initially, the positivity and boundedness of the solutions are examined to ascertain the biological validity of the model. The presence of ecologically significant equilibrium points are established, followed by examining parametric restrictions for the local stability to comprehend the system dynamics in response to minor perturbations. A detailed computation encompasses diverse bifurcations, both of codimension one and two, which provide distinct dynamic behaviors of the model, such as oscillations, stable coexistence, and potential extinction scenarios. Numerical simulation has been provided to showcase complex dynamical behavior resulting from the Allee effect and prey group defense.