Analysis of the Incidence of Poxvirus on the Dynamics between Red and Grey Squirrels

Fadi Barbara, Valentina La Morgia, Valerio Parodi, Giuseppe Toscano and Ezio Venturino
Additional contact information
Fadi Barbara: Department of Mathematics “Giuseppe Peano”, University of Turin, via Carlo Alberto 10, 10123 Torino, Italy
Valentina La Morgia: Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), via Ca’Fornacetta 9, 40064 Ozzano Emilia (BO), Italy
Valerio Parodi: Department of Mathematics “Giuseppe Peano”, University of Turin, via Carlo Alberto 10, 10123 Torino, Italy
Giuseppe Toscano: Department of Mathematics “Giuseppe Peano”, University of Turin, via Carlo Alberto 10, 10123 Torino, Italy
Ezio Venturino: Department of Mathematics “Giuseppe Peano”, University of Turin, via Carlo Alberto 10, 10123 Torino, Italy

Mathematics, 2018, vol. 6, issue 7, 1-21

Abstract: A model for the interactions of the invasive grey squirrel species as asymptomatic carriers of the poxvirus with the native red squirrel is presented and analyzed. Equilibria of the dynamical system are assessed, and their sensitivity in terms of the ecosystem parameters is investigated through numerical simulations. The findings are in line with both field and theoretical research. The results indicate that mainly the reproduction rate of the alien population should be drastically reduced to repel the invasion, and to achieve disease eradication, actions must be performed to reduce the intraspecific transmission rate; also, the native species mortality plays a role: if grey squirrels are controlled, increasing it may help in the red squirrel preservation, while the invaders vanish; on the contrary, decreasing it in favorable situations, the coexistence of the two species may occur. Preservation or restoration of the native red squirrel requires removal of the grey squirrels or keeping them at low values. Wildlife managers should exert a constant effort to achieve a harsh reduction of the grey squirrel growth rate and to protect the remnant red squirrel population.

Keywords: competition; dynamical systems; invasive species; squirrel poxvirus (SQPV); transmissible diseases (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/6/7/113/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/6/7/113/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jmathe:v:6:y:2018:i:7:p:113-:d:155508

Access Statistics for this article

Mathematics is currently edited by Ms. Emma He

More articles in Mathematics from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().