Existence of spatial patterns in reaction–diffusion systems incorporating a prey refuge

Abstract. In real-world ecosystem, studies on the mechanisms of spatiotemporal pattern formation in a system of interacting populations deserve special attention for its own importance in contemporary theoretical ecology. The present investigation deals with the spatial dynamical system of a two-dimensional continuous diffusive predator–prey model involving the influence of intra-species competition among predators with the incorporation of a constant proportion of prey refuge. The linear stability analysis has been carried out and the appropriate condition of Turing instability around the unique positive interior equilibrium point of the present model system has been determined. Furthermore, the existence of the various spatial patterns through diffusion-driven instability and the Turing space in the spatial domain have been explored thoroughly. The results of numerical simulations reveal the dynamics of population density variation in the formation of isolated groups, following spotted or stripe-like patterns or coexistence of both the patterns. The results of the present investigation also point out that the prey refuge does have significant influence on the pattern formation of the interacting populations of the model under consideration.