Natural enemies deployment in patchy environments for augmentative biological control

作者：

Highlights：

• The influence of space on the efficacy of augmentative biological control is studied.

• A two-patch predator–prey model with discrete periodic predator releases is proposed.

• The spatio-temporal pattern of biocontrol agents introductions drives their efficacy.

• The threshold release rate for pest eradication increases with the release period.

• Frequent and small predator releases yield more effective pest suppression.

摘要

•The influence of space on the efficacy of augmentative biological control is studied.•A two-patch predator–prey model with discrete periodic predator releases is proposed.•The spatio-temporal pattern of biocontrol agents introductions drives their efficacy.•The threshold release rate for pest eradication increases with the release period.•Frequent and small predator releases yield more effective pest suppression.

论文关键词：Impulsive control,Biological control,Semi-discrete systems,Predator–prey model,Two-patch model,Dispersal

论文评审过程：Received 3 December 2014, Revised 18 May 2015, Accepted 2 June 2015, Available online 30 June 2015, Version of Record 30 June 2015.

论文官网地址：https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amc.2015.06.021