MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF THE POPULATION DYNAMICS OF SEA TURTLES AT CHAGAR HUTANG BEACH, MALAYSIA

Abstract

In this paper, we explore the existing prey-predator dynamics between the sea turtle and its predator within a secluded bay known as Chagar Hutang on Redang Island, off the coast of Terengganu state on Peninsular Malaysia’s east coast. Previous studies show that the extinction of the sea turtle is imminent and there is ample evidence of the decreasing sea turtle population in Malaysia. The authors introduce a new mathematical model of an ordinary differential equation (ODE) as a conservation initiative formulated from the literature of previous studies. This paper also presents a qualitative analysis, that is the stability analysis such as the Jacobian matrix and its eigenvalues. The authors find that the population of sea turtle eggs, hatchlings and the predators in Chagar Hutang may reach either total extinction or co-existence in a stable state in specific conditions. With the specific condition obtained, the model is simulated and the time series plot with the phase portrait diagram is further discussed by the authors.