In 1925 Lotka and Volterra introduced the predator-prey equations, a system of equations that models the populations of two species, one of which preys on the other. Let x(t) represent the number of rabbits living in a region at time t, and y(t) the number of foxes in the same region. As time passes, the number of rabbits increases at a rate proportional to their population, and decreases at a rate proportional to the number of encounters between rabbits and foxes. The foxes, which compete for food, increase in number at a rate proportional to the number of encounters with rabbits but decrease at a rate proportional to the number of foxes. The number of encounters between rabbits and foxes is assumed to be proportional to the product of the two populations. These assumptions lead to the autonomous system

where a, b, c, d are positive constants. The values of these constants vary according to the specific situation being modeled. We can study the nature of the population changes without setting these constants to specific values.

What happens to the fox population if there are no rabbits present?

Transcribed Image Text:

dx dt dy dt (a - by)x (-c + dx)y