2. References

This section examines nonlinear differential equations using qualitative analysis techniques.

Growth of Bacteria

Ba

Similar Application for the Agricultural Industry

• Consider an agricultural situation, such as scale insects and lady bugs, and the application of pesticides.
• Without pesticides, the insects form a classical predator-prey situation as modeled above.
• The application of pesticides is like the situation above with the fishing industry netting fish. The pesticide generally kills both the prey insect (which is usually the agricultural pest) and the predator species.
• Our analysis above shows that the prey species in the long run benefits from this type of application. Thus, the agricultural pest actually does better after application of pesticides (after a recovery time). This process causes even larger amplitude oscillations, so nastier outbreaks.
• Conclusion: The farmers and public lose from pesticides, while the chemistry industry benefits!

References

[1]