Bifurcation and chaos in discrete-time predator–prey system

The discrete-time predator–prey system obtained by Euler method is investigated. The conditions of existence for flip bifurcation and Hopf bifurcation are derived by using center manifold theorem and bifurcation theory. And numerical simulation results not only show the consistence with the theoretical analysis but also display the new and interesting dynamical behaviors, including period-3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 18, 20, 22, 30, 39-orbits in different chaotic regions, attracting invariant circle, period-doubling bifurcation from period-10 leading to chaos, inverse period-doubling bifurcation from period-5 leading to chaos, interior crisis and boundary crisis, intermittency mechanic, onset of chaos suddenly and sudden disappearance of the chaotic dynamics, attracting chaotic set, and non-attracting chaotic set. In particular, we observe that when the prey is in chaotic dynamic, the predator can tend to extinction or to a stable equilibrium. The computations of Lyapunov exponents confirm the dynamical behaviors. The analysis and results in this paper are interesting in mathematics and biology.