An Agent-Based Model of Santa Cruz Island Foxes (Urocyon littoralis santacruzae) which Exhibits an Allee Effect

Authors

  • Shelby M. Scott Department of Mathematics & Computer Science, Rhodes College, Memphis TN Author
  • Erin N. Bodine Department of Mathematics & Computer Science, Rhodes College, Memphis TN Author
  • Anne Yust Department of Mathematics, Birmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, AL Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30707/LiB1.1Scott

Keywords:

Santa Cruz island fox, agent-based model, Allee effect

Abstract

In the early 1990s, the island of Santa Cruz off the coast of California experienced a rapid decline of the canid Urocyon littoralis santacruzae. The reasons behind this decline included disease, predation, competition with other species, and genetic bottlenecking. We present an individual-based model that simulates the population of Santa Cruz island foxes. Through our model we provide evidence of the Allee effect in the Santa Cruz island fox population which is exacerbated by selection for reduced reproductive probability.

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Published

2023-11-11

Issue

Section

Research

How to Cite

An Agent-Based Model of Santa Cruz Island Foxes (Urocyon littoralis santacruzae) which Exhibits an Allee Effect. (2023). Letters in Biomathematics, 1(1), 97-109. https://doi.org/10.30707/LiB1.1Scott