The implementation of habitat destruction methods that promote native survival under invasion

Abstract

Controlling invasive alien species invasion and maintaining the survival of native species have attracted increasing attention, and habitat destruction can be used to achieve these aims. However, it remains unclear whether and how to promote the long-term survival of indigenous species facing invaders through the use of habitat destruction. In this study, we developed a spatially explicit simulation model and exposed invaders and residents from this model to habitat destruction with different properties. The results showed that (1) introducing habitat destruction could promote the long-term survival of native species facing invaders; however, the promoting effect of habitat destruction occurred only over a period of time after introduction, and habitat destruction substantially weakened indigenous species before that. (2) Intermediate levels of habitat destruction were the most beneficial to the protection of native species.

Counteractive effects of predator invasion and habitat destruction on predator–prey systems

“…Our findings support previous research suggesting that habitat destruction can impede biological invasions and protect native species from extinction (Alofs & Fowler, 2010; Bozzuto et al., 2021; Yang & Liu, 2023). Figure 3e,f, as well as Figure 4c,d, add further credibility to this idea.…”

“…However, if these conditions are not met, habitat destruction further exacerbates the collapse of the native system under predator invasion (Figures 3 and 4). Furthermore, our findings suggest that low levels of habitat destruction (Figure 6), rather than intermediate levels (Yang & Liu, 2023), are the most effective at mitigating the threats of global invasive predators to native predator–prey system. In contrast to the findings of previous works (Yang & Liu, 2023), we did not find evidence indicating that the timing of habitat destruction introduction or the spatial distribution of destroyed habitats contributed to the resistance of the native system to invasion.…”

“…Figure 3e,f, as well as Figure 4c,d, add further credibility to this idea. Additionally, Yang and Liu (2023) proposed that shortening the time between two habitat destruction events is more beneficial for assisting weaker native competitors during invasions. Our results in Figure 6c,d indicate that reducing the time interval between two habitat destruction events can also enhance the ability of the native predator-prey system to resist competition pressure from globally invasive predators.…”

“…Previous theoretical and experimental researches have focused on examining the impact of habitat destruction on biological invasions, including investigations into whether habitat destruction enhances (Wang et al., 2021) or inhibits (Alofs & Fowler, 2010; Bozzuto et al., 2021) invasions, as well as the role of habitat destruction in protecting weaker native competitors during invasions (Yang & Liu, 2023). In this study, we investigated a native predator–prey system that was simultaneously exposed to invasive predators and habitat destruction.…”

“…Although the interaction between biological invasion and habitat destruction has garnered much attention (Alofs & Fowler, 2010;Gallé et al, 2023), understanding how these invasions and destruction collectively impact the long-term persistence of native communities remains challenging. For instance, when habitat destruction and invasion co-occur, native species have a greater chance of persistence than when invasion occurs on its own, particularly if invasive species possess stronger competition or dispersal ability than native species (Yang & Liu, 2023). However, the responses of more complex native communities to co-occurring habitat destruction and invasion still require further investigation.…”