Modelling Seasonal Migration Patterns of Wildebeest under Climate-Driven Changes: A Predator-Prey Model with De Angelis Functional Response
Linus Nyarusanda Kisoma *
Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O.Box 3038, Morogoro, Tanzania.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study models the dynamics of a predator-prey system influenced by seasonal resource availability and prey migration. A two-dimensional spatial model simulates prey and predator populations, where prey growth is driven by seasonal resource fluctuations, and migration is guided by the spatial distribution of resources. The results show that higher resources during the wet season leads to increased prey density and migration, while lower resources in the dry season reduce prey growth and movement. Predator populations follow prey density changes, with a delayed increase in response to prey population peaks. Overall, the model highlights the critical role of seasonal resource variability in shaping predator-prey interactions and migration patterns.
Keywords: Spatial heterogeneity, resource distribution, migration patterns, seasonal variations