On the stability of a predator-prey system with egg-eating predators

This paper studies predator-prey interactions where the predators eat only newborn prey or, equivalently, eggs. Such an egg-eating model has previously been shown numerically to lead to instability in the size of both populations. Various modifications of the egg-eating model are discussed, and studied for stability. It is found that stable predator-prey coexistence can be achieved by introducing either self-limitation of prey or mutual interference between predators. Spatial diffusion of both populations and unequal hunting capacities for different ages of predators have no effect on the stability of the system.