Success, failure and collapse of an ecological system due to the introduction of a generalist super-predator

Species reintroduction is an effective strategy to save endangered species. New species are also introduced for economic purposes or to control the density of some other species. However, not all species introduction programs are successful. In this article, using mathematical models and the theory of dynamical systems, we explain a species introduction program's success, failure and collapse due to introducing a generalist super-predator in a predator-prey system. Our study reveals that the persistence of the introduced species with the others mainly depends on two factors: the population density of the native species at the time of the third species' introduction and the population density of the introduced species. Further, we show that the introduced species can have significant negative impacts on native species, often leading to their replacement by themselves. In extreme cases, this disruption can result in the extinction of native prey and predators along with the introduced species. This novel study may find applications in conservation biology and species control mechanisms.