Stability and Hopf bifurcation in a ratio-dependent predator-prey system with stage structure

A ratio-dependent predator-prey model with stage structure for the predator and time delay due to the gestation of the predator is investigated. By analyzing the characteristic equations, the local stability of a positive equilibrium and a boundary equilibrium is discussed, respectively. Further, it is proved that the system undergoes a Hopf bifurcation at the positive equilibrium when tau = tau(0). By using an iteration technique, sufficient conditions are derived for the global attractivity of the positive equilibrium. By comparison arguments, sufficient conditions are obtained for the global stability of the boundary equilibrium. Numerical simulations are carried out to illustrate the main results. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.