Title

An ounce of prevention or a pound of cure: bioeconomic risk analysis of invasive species

Authors

Authors

B. Leung; D. M. Lodge; D. Finnoff; J. F. Shogren; M. A. Lewis;G. Lamberti

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Proc. R. Soc. B-Biol. Sci.

Keywords

stochastic dynamic programming; non-indigenous; exotic species; risk; assessment; ECOSYSTEM SERVICES; MANAGEMENT; DISPERSAL; MUSSELS; Biology; Ecology; Evolutionary Biology

Abstract

Numbers of non-indigenous species-species introduced from elsewhere-are increasing rapidly worldwide, causing both environmental and economic damage. Rigorous quantitative risk-analysis frameworks, however, for invasive species are lacking. We need to evaluate the risks posed by invasive species and quantify the relative merits of different management strategies (e.g. allocation of resources between prevention and control). We present a quantitative bioeconomic modelling framework to analyse risks from non-indigenous species to economic activity and the environment. The model identifies the optimal allocation of resources to prevention versus control, acceptable invasion risks and consequences of invasion to optimal investments (e.g. labour and capital). We apply the model to zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha), and show that society could benefit by spending up to US$324 000 year(-1) to prevent invasions into a single lake with a power plant. By contrast, the US Fish and Wildlife Service spent US$825 000 in 2001 to manage all aquatic invaders in all US lakes. Thus, greater investment in prevention is warranted.

Journal Title

Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences

Volume

269

Issue/Number

1508

Publication Date

1-1-2002

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

2407

Last Page

2413

WOS Identifier

WOS:000180108400004

ISSN

0962-8452

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