Pablo García-Díaz1, Dean P Anderson1, Miguel Lurgi2. 1. Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, P.O. Box 69040, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand. 2. Centre for Biodiversity Theory and Modelling, Theoretical and Experimental Ecology Station, CNRS-Paul Sabatier University, Moulis, France.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Effective landscape control of invasive species is context-dependent due to the interplay between the landscape structure, local population dynamics, and metapopulation processes. We use a modelling approach incorporating these three elements to explore the drivers of recovery of populations of invasive species after control. OBJECTIVES: We aim to improve our understanding of the factors influencing the landscape-level control of invasive species. METHODS: We focus on the case study of invasive brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) control in New Zealand. We assess how 13 covariates describing the landscape, patch, and population features influence the time of population recovery to a management density threshold of two possums/ha. We demonstrate the effects of those covariates on population recovery under three scenarios of population growth: logistic growth, strong Allee effects, and weak Allee effects. RESULTS: Recovery times were rapid regardless of the simulated population dynamics (average recovery time < 2 years), although populations experiencing Allee effects took longer to recover than those growing logistically. Our results indicate that habitat availability and patch area play a key role in reducing times to recovery after control, and this relationship is consistent across the three simulated scenarios. CONCLUSIONS: The control of invasive possum populations in patchy landscapes would benefit from a patch-level management approach (considering each patch as an independent management unit), whereas simple landscapes would be better controlled by taking a landscape-level view (the landscape as the management unit). Future research should test the predictions of our models with empirical data to refine control operations.
CONTEXT: Effective landscape control of invasive species is context-dependent due to the interplay between the landscape structure, local population dynamics, and metapopulation processes. We use a modelling approach incorporating these three elements to explore the drivers of recovery of populations of invasive species after control. OBJECTIVES: We aim to improve our understanding of the factors influencing the landscape-level control of invasive species. METHODS: We focus on the case study of invasive brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) control in New Zealand. We assess how 13 covariates describing the landscape, patch, and population features influence the time of population recovery to a management density threshold of two possums/ha. We demonstrate the effects of those covariates on population recovery under three scenarios of population growth: logistic growth, strong Allee effects, and weak Allee effects. RESULTS: Recovery times were rapid regardless of the simulated population dynamics (average recovery time < 2 years), although populations experiencing Allee effects took longer to recover than those growing logistically. Our results indicate that habitat availability and patch area play a key role in reducing times to recovery after control, and this relationship is consistent across the three simulated scenarios. CONCLUSIONS: The control of invasive possum populations in patchy landscapes would benefit from a patch-level management approach (considering each patch as an independent management unit), whereas simple landscapes would be better controlled by taking a landscape-level view (the landscape as the management unit). Future research should test the predictions of our models with empirical data to refine control operations.
Entities:
Keywords:
Allee effects; Brushtail possum; Habitat availability; Landscape and patch metrics; New Zealand
Authors: Wendy A Ruscoe; David S L Ramsey; Roger P Pech; Peter J Sweetapple; Ivor Yockney; Mandy C Barron; Mike Perry; Graham Nugent; Roger Carran; Rodney Warne; Chris Brausch; Richard P Duncan Journal: Ecol Lett Date: 2011-08-02 Impact factor: 9.492
Authors: Antoinette J Piaggio; Gernot Segelbacher; Philip J Seddon; Luke Alphey; Elizabeth L Bennett; Robert H Carlson; Robert M Friedman; Dona Kanavy; Ryan Phelan; Kent H Redford; Marina Rosales; Lydia Slobodian; Keith Wheeler Journal: Trends Ecol Evol Date: 2016-11-19 Impact factor: 17.712