Computer Simulation of the Dynamic Complexity of a Host-parasitoid Model

In this paper, computer simulation is used to study the dynamic complexities of a host-parasitoid interaction with a Hassell growth function for the host and Holling-type functional response. Many forms of complex dynamic are observed, including quasiperiodic bands with periodic windows, Hopf bifurcation, period-doubling bifurcations, period-halving bifurcations, attractor crisis, intermittent chaos, supertransient behavior, multiple attractors with fractal basins of attraction. The numerical results indicate that computer simulation is a useful method of investigating complex dynamic systems.