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Exploiting Allee effects for managing biological invasions
Patrick C Tobin1, Luděk Berec, Andrew M Liebhold
1Forest Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Northern Research Station, 180 Canfield Street, Morgantown, WV 26505-3101, USA. ptobin@fs.fed.us
Ecology Letters
|March 23, 2011
Summary
Exploiting Allee effects, which describe how small populations struggle to survive, can help manage invasive species. Strategies can weaken or create these effects to control invaders.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Invasive Species Management
Background:
- Biological invasions pose a significant global threat to ecosystem function and biodiversity.
- Allee effects, characterized by positive density dependence, are crucial in the establishment and spread of invasive species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and propose strategies for exploiting Allee effects to manage biological invasions.
- To demonstrate the utility of Allee effects in risk assessment and resource prioritization for invasive species control.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current strategies exploiting Allee effects in invasive species management.
- Conceptual framework for manipulating Allee effects to hinder biological invaders.
Main Results:
- Many invasive species exhibit Allee effects (e.g., mate finding, cooperative feeding/reproduction, predator avoidance).
- Exploiting these effects offers unprecedented opportunities for management.
Conclusions:
- Management tactics can strengthen or create Allee effects to control invasive species more effectively.
- Understanding Allee effects is vital for successful risk assessment and prioritizing conservation resources.
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