RESUMEN

In this paper, we develop a criterion to calculate the multiplicity of a multiple focus for general predator-prey systems. As applications of this criterion, we calculate the largest multiplicity of a multiple focus in a predator-prey system with nonmonotonic functional response $p(x)=\frac{x}{ax^2+bx+1}$ studied by Zhu, Campbell, and Wolkowicz [SIAM J. Appl. Math., 63 (2002), pp. 636-682] and prove that the degenerate Hopf bifurcation is of codimension two. Furthermore, we show that there exist parameter values for which this system has a unique positive hyperbolic stable equilibrium and exactly two limit cycles, the inner one unstable and outer one stable. Numerical simulations for the existence of the two limit cycles bifurcated from the multiple focus are also given in support of the criterion.