Role of Fear in a Predator–Prey Model with Beddington–DeAngelis Functional Response

Abstract

Abstract In the present article, we investigate the impact of fear effect in a predator–prey model, where predator–prey interaction follows Beddington–DeAngelis functional response. We consider that due to fear of predator the birth rate of prey population reduces. Mathematical properties, such as persistence, equilibria analysis, local and global stability analysis, and bifurcation analysis, have been investigated. We observe that an increase in the cost of fear destabilizes the system and produces periodic solutions via supercritical Hopf bifurcation. However, with further increase in the strength of fear, system undergoes another Hopf bifurcation and becomes stable. The stability of the Hopf-bifurcating periodic solutions is obtained by computing the first Lyapunov coefficient. Our results suggest that fear of predation risk can have both stabilizing and destabilizing effects.