Economic activity and distribution of an invasive species: Evidence from night-time lights satellite imagery data

Abstract

This study addresses economic and ecological aspects related to aquatic invasive species occurrence and spread. The relative importance of these two factors driving the probability of occurrence of Elodea canadensis species in lakes of Sweden is quantified. Night-time lights data, a proxy for economic activity, is generated from satellite imagery and mapped to key environmental variables known to constrain the species' distribution. Economic and environmental data are then matched with the species' observational records at the lake scale. Evidence from a spatial probit model shows a robust positive relationship between economic activity and invasion of uninvaded lakes.

Keywords

Elodea canadensis; Spatial Probit Model; Light Radiance; Lakes; Sweden

Published in

Ecological Economics
2021, volume: 185, article number: 107037
Publisher: ELSEVIER

SLU Authors

• Marbuah, George

  • Department of Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)

• Gren, Ing-Marie

  • Department of Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Mckie, Brendan

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2021.107037

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/111989