Accounting for management costs in sensitivity analyses of matrix population models

Baxter, Peter W. J., McCarthy, Michael A., Possingham, Hugh P., Menkhorst, Peter W. and McLean, Natasha (2006) Accounting for management costs in sensitivity analyses of matrix population models. Conservation Biology, 20 3: 893-905.


Author Baxter, Peter W. J.
McCarthy, Michael A.
Possingham, Hugh P.
Menkhorst, Peter W.
McLean, Natasha
Title Accounting for management costs in sensitivity analyses of matrix population models
Journal name Conservation Biology  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank A*)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2006-06
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00378.x
Volume number 20
Issue number 3
ISSN 0888-8892
1523-1739
Start page 893
End page 905
Total pages 13
Place of publication United States
Publisher Blackwell Publishing Inc.
Collection year 2006
Language eng
Subject C1
270708 Conservation and Biodiversity
779903 Living resources (flora and fauna)
0502 Environmental Science and Management
Abstract Traditional sensitivity and elasticity analyses of matrix population models have been used to p inform management decisions, but they ignore the economic costs of manipulating vital rates. For exam le, the growth rate of a population is often most sensitive to changes in adult survival rate, but this does not mean that increasing that rate is the best option for managing the population because it may be much more expensive than other options. To explore how managers should optimize their manipulation of vital rates, we incorporated the cost of changing those rates into matrix population models. We derived analytic expressions for locations in parameter space where managers should shift between management of fecundity and survival, for the balance between fecundity and survival management at those boundaries, and for the allocation of management resources to sustain that optimal balance. For simple matrices, the optimal budget allocation can often be expressed as simple functions of vital rates and the relative costs of changing them. We applied our method to management of the Helmeted Honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops cassidix; an endangered Australian bird) and the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) as examples. Our method showed that cost-efficient management of the Helmeted Honeyeater should focus on increasing fecundity via nest protection, whereas optimal koala management should focus on manipulating both fecundity and survival simultaneously, These findings are contrary to the cost-negligent recommendations of elasticity analysis, which would suggest focusing on managing survival in both cases. A further investigation of Helmeted Honeyeater management options, based on an individual-based model incorporating density dependence, spatial structure, and environmental stochasticity, confirmed that fecundity management was the most cost-effective strategy. Our results demonstrate that decisions that ignore economic factors will reduce management efficiency.
Keyword Biodiversity Conservation
Ecology
Environmental Sciences
Conservation
Elasticity
Marginal Costs
Marginal Efficiency Optimization
Perturbation Analysis
Population Management
Stochastic Model
Elasticity Analysis
Conservation Biology
Life-histories
Et-al
Extinction
Demography
Viability
Stochasticity
Reliability
Dynamics
Q-Index Code C1

 
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