Positive solutions to the prey–predator equations with dormancy of predators

The time-global unique classical positive solutions to the reaction–diffusion equations for prey–predator models with dormancy of predators are constructed. The feature appears on the nonlinear terms of Holling type $\rm I\!I$ functional response. The crucial step is to establish time-local positive classical solutions by using a new approximation associated with time-evolution operators. Although the system does not equip usual comparison principle for solutions to partial differential equation, a priori bounds are derived by enclosing and renormalising arguments of solutions to the corresponding ordinary differential equations. Furthermore, time-global existence, invariant regions and asymptotic behaviours of solutions follow from such a priori bounds.