Bifurcation analysis and chaos control for a plant-herbivore model with weak predator functional response.

The interaction between plants and herbivores is one of the most fundamental processes in ecology. Discrete-time models are frequently used for describing the dynamics of plants and herbivores interaction with non-overlapping generations, such that a new generation replaces the old at regular time intervals. Keeping in view the interaction of the apple twig borer and the grape vine, the qualitative behaviour of a discrete-time plant-herbivore model is investigated with weak predator functional response. The topological classification of equilibria is investigated. It is proved that the boundary equilibrium undergoes transcritical bifurcation, whereas unique positive steady-state of discrete-time plant-herbivore model undergoes Neimark-Sacker bifurcation. Numerical simulation is provided to strengthen our theoretical discussion.