Maximal canards in a slow–fast Rosenzweig–MacArthur model with intraspecific competition among predators

Using geometric singular perturbation theory, this paper investigates the canard phenomenon of a slow–fast Rosenzweig–MacArthur model. The model incorporates intraspecific competition among predators, assuming predator reproduction occurs much slower than prey. We demonstrate the occurrence of maximal canards between attracting and repelling slow manifolds as a bifurcation parameter varies. Additionally, we derive an analytic expression to approximate the bifurcation parameter value at which a maximal canard occurs. The method employed for this analysis relies on the blowup method. This involves finding a quasihomogeneous blowup map to desingularize the nonnormally hyperbolic point. Subsequently, charts are utilized to express the blowup in local coordinates, calculate local data, investigate the dynamics of the blown-up vector fields, and establish connections across charts. Furthermore, we provide numerical simulations to illustrate the canard explosion phenomenon in the model. Through parameter variation, we observe that the model transitions from a small amplitude limit cycle to small amplitude canard cycles (canards without a head), then to large amplitude canard cycles (canards with a head), and finally to a large amplitude relaxation cycle.