Predator-prey dynamics with square root functional responses

A predator-prey model is considered in which a modified Lotka-Volterra interaction term is used as the functional response of the predator to the prey. The interaction term is proportional to the square root of the prey population, which appropriately models systems in which the prey exhibits strong herd structure implying that the predator generally interacts with the prey along the outer corridor of the herd. Because of the square root term, the solution behavior near the origin is more subtle and interesting than standard models and makes sense ecologically. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.