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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #387129
Research Project: Integrated Approach to Manage the Pest Complex on Temperate Tree Fruits

Location: Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research

Title: Facilitating invasive species detection and monitoring with ecological niche model prediction

Author
item ZHU, GENGPING - Washington State University
item ILLAN GUTIERREZ, JAVIER - Washington State University
item PFEIFFER, VERA - Washington State University
item Neven, Lisa
item CROWDER, DAVID - Washington State University

Submitted to: Ecography
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The detection of invasive species is paramount to developing programs for identifying the extent of the spread of the pest as well as determining approaches to control the pest. Researchers at the USDA-ARS laboratory in Wapato, WA in collaboration with scientists at Washington State University developed a new computer program called “enmRoute” which incorporates ecological niche, landscape heterogeneity, and transportation models to promote collection of more individuals and greater species detection than traditional sampling approaches. The practical application this program is that it may help grower groups, local, State, and Federal regulators to develop economical and efficient survey programs to meet international standards for invasive and quarantine pest monitoring, detection, and delimitation, and may make eradication programs more attainable

Technical Abstract: Ecological niche models are often used to predict the distribution of invasive species before or after they have been detected in new regions. Such models should also be used to guide surveys to promote the early detection and eradication of invasive species. Here we propose a practical framework that seamlessly uses ecological niche models to develop sampling routes that promote detection of invasive species. Our framework uses habitat suitability predictions and occurrence data on incursion populations to generate potential survey sites, which are then prioritized for sampling based on their size and suitability. The generated survey route is then displayed on an open street map platform. Our framework was developed into the “enmRoute” R package and a user-friendly website to facilitate its application, and we validated our framework with a case study. We show that integrating ecological niche models with human transport routes promotes identification of survey sites that are predicted to collect more individuals and have a greater potential for species detection than traditional sampling approaches. Our framework may help industries, invasion biologists, and regulators develop economical and efficient survey programs or invasive pest monitoring that make eradication programs more attainable.