Developing Spatially Explicit Tools to Minimize Costs and Maximize Benefits of Marine Invasive Species Control

Using existing data on removal and site specifications and working with management to collect more data, this project will create models to determine the cost of removal of European green crab (Carcinus maenas) on the West Coast of Canada, and in the Salish Sea. Dr. Davis and the team will also create models that predict the probability of removal from sites, high densities of green crab, and the likelihood of recolonization at sites once removals have happened. These model outcomes integrated with management goals (i.e. preservation of eelgrass for juvenile salmon) we can create a conservation management tool designed to prioritize sites of value for focused population control. Tools such as these (Zonation, Prioritzr) allow managers to input details unique to their organization or jurisdiction and create effective conservation plans that have the lowest socioeconomic strain. More on Dr. Davis here.