{
  "abstract": "We investigate the dynamics of a predator–prey model with Holling type II functional response, and two ecologically distinct delays: a prey maturation delay $$\\tau _1$$ acting through density-dependent self-regulation, and a predator conversion delay $$\\tau _2$$ acting through delayed recruitment. After establishing well-posedness, positivity, and uniform boundedness of solutions, we perform a detailed numerical bifurcation analysis using DDE-Biftool. As $$\\tau _1$$ increases, the coexistence equilibrium undergoes a sequence of Hopf bifurcations whose criticality alternates between subcritical and supercritical, with the transition organised by generalized Hopf (Bautin) bifurcations in the $$(\\tau _1,\\tau _2)$$ -plane. Continuation of the emerging periodic branch reveals a fold of periodic orbits that produces bistability between coexistence and large-amplitude cycles, and a complete period-doubling cascade through period-2, period-4, period-8, period-16, and period-32 orbits. The Floquet multiplier at each detected period-doubling bifurcation equals $$-1$$ to numerical accuracy, and the spacing of successive doublings yields empirical Feigenbaum ratios that converge toward the universal value $$\\delta \\approx 4.6692$$ . Aitken $$\\Delta ^2$$ extrapolation places the accumulation point of the cascade at $$\\tau _1^{\\infty }\\approx 18.64$$ , beyond which periodic continuation no longer resolves the dynamics and direct numerical integration is consistent with aperiodic oscillation. These results show that the combination of maturation and conversion delays in a biologically interpretable predator–prey model can generate stability switching, bistability, and a classical Feigenbaum route to complex temporal variability.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 1,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Asim Alawfi"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3pekwxn4fnftm.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41598-026-74386-7",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "3pekwxn4fnftm",
  "issns": [
    "2045-2322"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-74386-7",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2739|Mathematical and Theoretical Epidemiology and Ecology Models"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7219706008",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-74386-7.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-04",
  "publisher": "Springer Science and Business Media LLC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3pekwxn4fnftm.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:22Z",
      "native_id": "10.1038/s41598-026-74386-7",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-74386-7"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2739|Mathematical and Theoretical Epidemiology and Ecology Models",
      "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Hopf bifurcations and period-doubling cascade in a two-delay predator–prey model with Holling type II response",
  "title_text": "Hopf bifurcations and period-doubling cascade in a two-delay predator–prey model with Holling type II response",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:22Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3pekwxn4fnftm",
  "venue": "Scientific Reports",
  "versions": []
}