Abstract Aim Many alien species experience a lag phase between arriving in region and becoming invasive, which can provide valuable window of opportunity for management. Our ability to predict are experiencing lags has major implications management decisions that worth billions dollars may determine the survival some native species. To date, timing causes release have been identified post hoc, based on historical narratives. Location Global. Methods We use simple but realistic simulation...

Management of damaging invasive plants is often undertaken by multiple decision makers, each managing only a small part the invader's population. As weeds can move between properties and re-infest eradicated sites from unmanaged sources, dynamics makers plays significant role in weed prevalence invasion risk at landscape scale. We used spatially explicit agent-based simulation to determine how individual agent behavior, concert with population ecology, determined prevalence. compared two...

Abstract Plant population responses are key to understanding the effects of threats such as climate change and invasions. However, we lack demographic data for most species, have often geographically aggregated. We determined what extent existing can be extrapolated predict performance across larger sets species spatial areas. used 550 matrix models, 210 sourced from COMPADRE Matrix Database, model how climate, geographic proximity phylogeny predicted performance. Models including only...

Crop row following is especially challenging in narrow cereal crops, such as wheat. Separation between plants within a disappears at an early growth stage, and canopy closure rows, when leaves from different rows start to occlude each other, occurs three four months after the crop emerges. Canopy makes it identify separate through computer vision clear lanes become obscured. Cereal crops are grass species so their have predictable shape orientation. We introduce image processing pipeline...

Abstract Complex simulation models are important tools in applied ecological and conservation research. However sensitivity analysis of this class can be difficult to conduct. High level interactions non‐linear responses common complex simulations, necessitates a global analysis, where each parameter is tested at range values, combination with changes many other parameters. We reviewed the literature, searching for population viability analyses that used models. found only 9 out 122...

Abstract Many species are threatened by human activity through processes such as habitat modification, water management, hunting, and introduction of invasive species. These anthropogenic threats must be mitigated efficiently possible because both time money available for mitigation limited. For example, it is essential to address the type degree uncertainties present derive effective management strategies managed populations. Decision science provides tools required produce that can...

An important focus of biosecurity is anticipating future risks, but time lags between introduction, naturalisation, and (ultimately) impact mean that risks can be strongly influenced by history. We conduct a comprehensive historical analysis tropical grasses (n = 155) have naturalised in Australia since European settlement (1788) to determine what factors shaped patterns naturalisation including for the 21 species cause serious negative impacts. Most were from Old World (78 %), introduced...

Abstract Very little is known of how disturbance affects community assembly rules. We examine this in three states each two ski areas on southern New Zealand mountains. Theory suggests that a will become progressively more spatially organized during recovery from disturbance. Firstly, different patches the should similar through time, but was seen only one and even then examining species presence/absence. Secondly, it has been suggested spatial autocorrelation be stronger less‐disturbed...

Abstract Payments to private landholders for providing biodiversity land can improve conservation outside protected areas. Input‐based payments are widely used despite evidence they often ineffective at improving outcomes. Meanwhile, little has been done assess how use outcome‐based maximize biodiversity, growing academic interest. We compare different allocation methods which returns the greatest benefits biodiversity. predicted likely landholder actions in response payments. incorporated...

Predicting which species are likely to cause serious impacts in the future is crucial for targeting management efforts, but characteristics of such remain largely unconfirmed. We use data and expert opinion on tropical subtropical grasses naturalised Australia since European settlement identify high-impact subsequently test whether predictable. High-impact three main affected sectors (environment, pastoral agriculture) were determined by assessing evidence against pre-defined criteria....

As the burden of herbicide resistance grows and environmental repercussions excessive use become clear, new ways managing weed populations are needed. This is particularly true for cereal crops, like wheat barley, that staple food crops occupy a globally significant portion agricultural land. Even small improvements in management practices across these major worldwide would yield considerable benefits both environment global security. Blackgrass grass which causes particular problems...

Many important ecological processes play out over large geographic ranges, and accurate large-scale monitoring of populations is a requirement for their effective management. Of particular interest are agricultural weeds, which cause widespread economic damage. However, the scale weed population data collection limited by an inevitable trade-off between quantity quality. Remote sensing offers promising route to state data. key challenge collect high enough resolution account between-site...

Abstract Site-specific weed management (on the scale of a few meters or less) has potential to greatly reduce pesticide use and its associated environmental economic costs. A prerequisite for site-specific is availability accurate maps population that can be generated quickly cheaply. Improvements cost reductions in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) camera technology mean these tools are now readily available agricultural use. We used UAVs collect images captured both RGB multispectral formats...

The spatial scale at which demographic performance (e.g., net reproductive output) varies can profoundly influence landscape-level population growth and persistence, many demographically pertinent processes such as species interactions resource acquisition vary fine scales. We compared the magnitude of variation associated with fine-scale heterogeneity (<10 m), due to larger-scale (>1 ha) fluctuations fire disturbance. used a spatially explicit model within an IPM modeling framework evaluate...

Abstract Population dynamics can be highly variable in the face of environmental heterogeneity, and understanding this variation is central study ecology. Robust management decisions require that we understand how populations respond to at a range scales, under broad suite conditions. models are potentially valuable tools addressing challenge. However, without adequate data, fail produce useful results. Populations arable weeds particularly problematic respect, as they widespread their...