Waves analysis and spatiotemporal pattern formation of an ecosystem model

In this paper, we consider a predator-prey model given by a reaction-diffusion system. This model incorporates Holling-type-II (Michaelis-Menten) and modified Leslie-Gower functional responses. We show the existence of qualitatively different types of system behaviors realized for various parameter values. Our model is investigated with methods of the qualitative theory and the theory of bifurcations. We generalize the traveling waves existence method for populations dynamics with positive derivative densities, to the predator-prey system in which growth densities may change sign. Parallel to this is a discussion and an analysis of alternative model outcomes such as complex pattern formation and spatio-temporal chaos behavior. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.