Effect of Fear and Time Delay on Predator–Prey Interaction

In this paper, we incorporate a new type of fear effect into a predator–prey time-delay model to study their combined impact on the system’s dynamics. Without time delay, our results show that the prey-only and coexistence equilibrium points are globally asymptotically stable under certain conditions. We also find that a transcritical bifurcation occurs near the prey-only equilibrium, while a Hopf bifurcation arises near the coexistence equilibrium. The fear effect plays a crucial role in the system’s behavior, as it can lead to predator extinction or near-extinction of the prey. Moreover, the inclusion of time delay influences the coexistence equilibrium, potentially destabilizing it and giving rise to a stable limit cycle.