Using YY supermales to destabilize invasive fish populations.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Genetics
• Mathematical Biology

Background:

• Invasive species pose significant ecological and economic threats worldwide.
• Genetically modified organisms offer novel biocontrol strategies.
• Supermales (YY genotype) can disrupt wild population dynamics by creating a male-biased sex ratio.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of introducing supermales for invasive species eradication.
• To model the impact of supermales on population dynamics, considering the Allee effect.
• To determine the optimal conditions for supermale introduction based on population parameters.

Main Methods:

• Development of a mathematical model incorporating an Allee effect.
• Simulations to analyze population dynamics under supermale augmentation.
• Sensitivity analysis of the supermale supply rate to initial population density and sex ratio.

Main Results:

• Supermale introduction increases the minimum viable population size (Allee threshold) for females.
• The Allee effect is amplified by the presence of supermales.
• Optimal supermale introduction rates are dependent on reproductive and survival traits of supermales.

Conclusions:

• Supermale augmentation is a promising biocontrol strategy for invasive species eradication.
• The strategy's success is influenced by the Allee effect and requires careful optimization.
• Understanding supermale fitness is crucial for designing effective eradication programs.