Turing instabilities and spatio-temporal chaos in ratio-dependent Holling–Tanner model

In this paper we consider a modified spatiotemporal ecological system originating from the temporal Holling–Tanner model, by incorporating diffusion terms. The original ODE system is studied for the stability of coexisting homogeneous steady-states. The modified PDE system is investigated in detail with both numerical and analytical approaches. Both the Turing and non-Turing patterns are examined for some fixed parametric values and some interesting results have been obtained for the prey and predator populations. Numerical simulation shows that either prey or predator population do not converge to any stationary state at any future time when parameter values are taken in the Turing–Hopf domain. Prey and predator populations exhibit spatiotemporal chaos resulting from temporal oscillation of both the population and spatial instability. With help of numerical simulations we have shown that Turing–Hopf bifurcation leads to onset of spatio-temporal chaos when predator’s diffusivity is much higher compared to prey population. Our investigation reveals the fact that Hopf-bifurcation is essential for the onset of spatiotemporal chaos.

► A spatio-temporal Holling–Tanner model with ratio-dependent functional response is considered.
► Turing and non-Turing patterns are obtained for specific choice of parameter values.
► Spatio-temporal chaos for parameter values within Turing–Hopf domain is reported.
► Various stationary and non-stationary patterns within and outside the Turing domain are reported.