Multiple periodic solutions of a delayed stage-structured predator-prey model with non-monotone functional responses

A delayed stage-structured predator-prey model with non-monotone functional responses is proposed. It is assumed that immature individuals and mature individuals of the predator are divided by a fixed age, and that immature predators do not have the ability to attack prey. Some new and interesting sufficient conditions are obtained for the global existence of multiple positive periodic solutions of the stage-structured predator-prey model. Our method is based on Mawhin's coincidence degree and novel estimation techniques for the a priori bounds of unknown solutions to Lx = lambda Nx. An example is given to illustrate the feasibility of our main result. (C) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.