Loading...
A bio-economic optimization model for sustainable and long-term control of Sericea Lespedeza (Lespedeza Cuneata) invasion in the Great Plains
Kibis, Eyyub Y. Cobuloglu, Halil I.
Kibis, Eyyub Y.
Cobuloglu, Halil I.
Files
Loading...
Abstract
Adobe PDF, 62.87 KB
Authors
Other Names
Location
Time Period
Advisors
Original Date
Digitization Date
Issue Date
2014-02-13
Type
Abstract
Genre
Keywords
Subjects (LCSH)
Citation
Abstract
Native grasslands in the Great Plains are threatened by the spread of sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza
cuneata), a noxious weed brought from Asia, which can damage forage or hay production and
result in substantial economic loss to landowners. Sericea has spread over 5,501,400 acres of the
mid- to southern Great Plains and has led to $29 million average annual forage loss in the Flint
Hills region of Kansas. Therefore, policy makers and farmers need to find effective decision
strategies for controlling sericea invasion and reducing the related damages. In this research, we
develop a dynamic nonlinear bio-economic optimization model that is structured based on age,
density, and frequency of invasive species. This very complex nonlinear optimization model
integrates biological models into a decision theory framework while accounting for seed
production and loss rates for different age classes, seed dispersal, longevity and germination, seed
bank dynamics, survival rate of seedlings, carrying capacity, treatment costs, budget, and relevant
economic loss. The model minimizes the sum of damages to hay and forage caused by the invasion
of sericea over time subject to two main constraints: (1) growth and spread dynamics of invasive
species over space and time, and (2) budget restricting the total cost of labor and herbicides used to
control sericea. The numerical results provide effective management strategies to land managers
and government officials regarding where, when, and how much resources need to be allocated for
controlling sericea, and provide insights into the biological growth and spread behavior of invasive
species.
Table of Contents
Description
Poster project completed at the Wichita State University Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering. Presented at the 11th Annual Capitol Graduate Research Summit, Topeka, KS, February 13, 2014.
Publisher
Wichita State University