title: Prey dynamics under generalist predator culling in stage structured models.
abstract: In this paper, by means of mathematical dynamical models we investigate the impacts of predator culling on a prey population structured in two stage classes, juveniles and adults, assuming stage specific predation by two generalist predators with functional responses types 2 and 3 in all possible combinations. According to the chosen set of parameter values, these impacts can manifest through possible demographic Allee effects, sustained population oscillations, alternative stable states (e.g., predator-pit-like behavior) and Hydra effect, which are all discussed, in turn, in terms of species conservation, harvest yield and pest biological control.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 333 - Quitandinha, Petrópolis, RJ 25651-070, Brazil. Electronic address: michel@lncc.br.
authors.forename: Michel Iskin da S
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Fundação Instituto de Pesca do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Aílton da Costa, 115, s. 606, Duque de Caxias, RJ 25071-160, Brazil. Electronic address: pedrovesteves@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Pedro V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Esteves
authors.affiliation: Setor de Ecologia, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, MG 37200-000, Brazil. Electronic address: lucasdbf@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lucas Del Bianco
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.affiliation: Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 333 - Quitandinha, Petrópolis, RJ 25651-070, Brazil. Electronic address: lanjos@lncc.br.
authors.forename: Lucas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dos Anjos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020387:Food Chain; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011157:Population Dynamics
keywords: Alternative stable states; Functional response; Hydra effect; Stage dependent predation; Unstable limit cycle