Biological control through provision of additional food to predators: a theoretical study

In this paper we analyze a variation of a standard predator-prey model with type II functional response which represents predator-prey dynamics in the presence of some additional food to the predator. The aim is to study the consequences of providing additional food on the system dynamics. We conclude that handling times for the available foods play a key role in determining the eventual state of the ecosystem. It is interesting to observe that by varying the quality and quantity of additional food we can not only control and limit the prey, but also limit and eradicate the predators. In the context of biological pest control, the results caution the manager on the choice of quality and quantity of the additional food used for this purpose. An arbitrary choice may have opposite effects leading to increase in pest concentration and eradication of the predator. This study offers insight into the possible management strategies that involve manipulation of quality and supply level of additional food to predators, for the benefit of biological control. The theoretical conclusions agree with results of some practical biological control experiments.