Handling overheads: optimal multi-method invasive species control

Abstract

Invasive species are a pervasive problem worldwide and considerable resources are directed towards their control. While there are many aspects to invasive species management, deciding how to allocate resources effectively when removing them is critical. There are often multiple control methods available, each with different characteristics. For example aerial baiting has very high overhead costs, while animal trapping incurs a handling time (the trap must be reset after each capture). Here, we examine a particular challenge that managers commonly face when designing eradication programmes—specifically what type of control measure to rely on at different times during the eradication effort? W..