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• Symmetric and asymmetric dispersal affects the community structure of complex ecological system. • Moderate and intense predation strength provides buffer against extinction in a multiple interactions type model. • Short predator handling time support stable coexistence of species in this ecological system. • Long predator handling time disrupt the persistence of species in this multi-species system. • The complexity of distinct biotic interactions leads to an unstable limit cycle. Distinct biotic interactions in multi-species communities are a ubiquitous force in the natural ecosystem, and this force is an essential determinant of community stability and species coexistence outcomes. We conduct numerical simulations and bifurcation analysis of partial differential equations to gain better understanding and ecological insights into how predation (a), predator handling time (h), and local dispersal affect multi-species community dynamics. This system consists of resource-mutualist-exploiter-competitor interactions and local dispersal. From the inspection of our numerical simulations and co-dimension one bifurcation analysis findings, we discover several critical values that correspond to transcritical bifurcation, subcritical and supercritical Hopf bifurcations. This occurs as we vary the bifurcation parameters a and h in this complex ecological system under symmetric and asymmetric dispersal scenarios. Furthermore, the interplay between these local bifurcation points results in an exciting co-dimension two bifurcations, i.e., Bogdanov-Takens and cusp bifurcation points, respectively, which act as the synchronization points in this complex ecological system. From an ecological viewpoint, we find that (i) the effect of the no-dispersal scenario supports the maintenance of species biodiversity when the predation strength is moderate; (ii) symmetric dispersal induces both subcritical and supercritical Hopf bifurcation and support species diversity for moderate predation strength; and (iii) asymmetric dispersal promotes species diversity as it simplifies the bifurcation changes in dynamics by eliminating the subcritical bifurcations that trigger uncertainty, and this dispersal mechanism mediates species coexistence outcomes. Fundamentally, stable limit cycles have been reported as predator handling time varies in some ecological models; however, we observed in our bifurcation analysis the emergence of the unstable limit cycle as predator handling time changes. We discover that intense predator handling time destabilizes this complex ecological community. In general, our results demonstrate the influential roles of predation, predator handling time, and local dispersal in determining this system's coexistence dynamics. This knowledge provides a better understanding of species conservation and biological control management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the present work, a mathematical model of predator–prey ecological interaction with infected prey is investigated. A saturation incidence function is used to model the behavioral change of the susceptible individuals when their number increases or due to the crowding effect of the infected individuals [V. Capasso, G. Serio, A generalization of the Kermack–McKendrick deterministic epidemic model, Math. Biosci. 42 (1978) 41–61]. Stability criteria for the infection-free and the endemic equilibria are deduced in terms of system parameters. The basic model is then modified to incorporate a time delay, describing a latency period. Stability and bifurcation analysis of the resulting delay differential equation model is carried out and ranges of the delay inducing stability and as well as instability for the system are found. Finally, a stability analysis of the bifurcating solutions is performed and the criteria for subcritical and supercritical Hopf bifurcation derived. The existence of a delay interval that preserves the stability of periodic orbits is demonstrated. The analysis emphasizes the importance of differential predation and a latency period in controlling disease dynamics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]