Searching for non-indigenous species: Rapidly delimiting the invasion boundary

Abstract

Aim: At first detection, little information is typically known about an invader's characteristics, true arrival date or spatial extent. Yet, before management options such as control or eradication can be considered, we need to know where a nuisance species has already spread. This is particularly difficult because of stochastic processes. Here, we develop an approach that requires little a priori information, yet accurately delimits the range of a biological invader. Location: We used a simulated landscape, subjected to stochasticity inherent in establishment and spread, to test novel theory for delimiting locally spreading populations. Methods: We distinguish three stages to identify the b..