Stemming the spread: The bioeconomics of invasion prevention in lake systems

Aquatic invaders, such as zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha), invade
inland waterways, spreading from lake to lake and inflicting economic as
well as environmental damage. Effective management frameworks need to
address both the the ecological and the economic realities of invasion
risk. Recently, a new management framework has been developed via
bioeconomic modelling involving collaborative research between
ecologists, economists and mathematicians.

In this talk I will review recent bioeconomic models for stemming the
spread of invasive species in lake networks. In some cases,
effective management can do no more than slow the spread, effectively
buying some time. In other cases optimal stopping configurations can be
calculated so as to suggest a strategic approach to invader control. I
will apply the modeling approach to the recent spread of zebra
mussel in the Great Lakes ecosystem.