In this work a mathematical model is built in order to validate on theoretical grounds field study results on a three-species system made of two prey, of which one is native and another one invasive, together with a native predator. Specifically, our results mathematically describe the negative effect on the native European hare after the introduction of the invasive Eastern cottontail, mediated by an increased predation rate by foxes. Two nonexclusive assumptions can be made: an increase in cottontail abundance would lead to a larger fox population, magnifying their predatory impact (“hyperpredation”) on hares; alternatively, cottontails attract foxes in patches where they live, which are also important resting sites for hares and consequently the increased presence of foxes results in a higher predation rates on hares. The model results support hyperpredation of increasing fox populations on native hares.

在这项工作中，建立了一个数学模型，以便在理论基础上验证由两个猎物组成的三个物种系统的实地研究结果，其中一个是本地的，另一个是入侵的，以及本地的捕食者。具体来说，我们的结果在数学上描述了引入侵入性东方棉尾兔后对欧洲本土野兔的负面影响，这是由狐狸增加的捕食率介导的。可以做出两个非排他性假设：棉尾丰度的增加会导致狐狸种群的增加，从而放大它们对野兔的捕食影响（“过度捕食”）；或者，棉尾兔在它们居住的地方吸引狐狸，这也是野兔的重要休息场所，因此狐狸的存在增加导致对野兔的捕食率更高。