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