Stabilizing effect of prey competition for predators exhibiting switching feeding behavior

The classical model by Tanksy on a two-level food web with a predator feeding on two kinds of prey is revisited and extended. The ecosystem with intraspecific and interspecific competition for resources among the prey is analized. Two equilibria are found: a segment of conditionally (neutrally) stable equilibrium points and the interior coexistence equilibrium, which is proven to be inconditionally stable. The predator population settles to a lower level than the one arising in the original Tansky's model. In addition, there is inverse proportionality between the predators' mortality and the equilibrium value. Predators' recovery and the settling of the system toward coexistence are also allowed by a large prey carrying capacity.