Simulating different strategies to control the invasive tree Ligustrum lucidum using the RangeShifter platform

Abstract

These folders contain all the inputs (batch files) to simulate alternative strategies for containing the invasion of the Asian tree Ligustrum lucidum at the expansion front. The simulations were conducted utilising a customised version of the individual-based spatially explicit modelling platform RangeShifter v2.0 (Bocedi et al., 2021; https://rangeshifter.github.io/). Across different sets of simulations, we varied the number of life stages and sites targeted. We additionally investigated how changing the management strategy over time affected outcomes. A total of 3 simulation experiments were carried out. The work was carried out as part of the Latin American Biodiversity Programme as part of the Newton Fund (NE/S011641/1), with contributions from NERC (UK), the Argentine National Scientific & Technical Research Council (CONICET,-201974-APN-DIR#CONICET) and 2022GCBCCONTAIN.- Invasive alien species management to decrease impacts on biodiversity, rural poverty and carbon storage -Folder 1: Parametrization of the Individual Base Model -Folder 2: Parametrization of Experiment 1: removing different life stages and varying the number of cells targeted each year for 30 years -Folder 3: Parametrization of Experiment 2: removing all stages (S1 to S4) to evaluate the effect of varying the number of cells targeted per year -Folder 4: Parametrization of Experiment 3: switching from removing all stages to removing only S1 and S2 after five years of removal would maintain effective control of the population for 15 years