Optimal control of harvest timing in discrete population models

Harvest plays an important role in management decisions, from fisheries to pest control. Discrete-time models enable us explore the importance of timing including order events particular actions. We derive novel mechanistic featuring explicit within-season harvest and level. optimization level through optimal control these population models. With a fixed level, is taken as Then both are used controls. maximize objective functional which includes goals maximizing yield, stock, minimizing costs associated with intensity timing. While standard compensatory dynamics predict it best early possible season, we find instances where harvesting later season optimal. Furthermore, discover interesting oscillations size, would be unexpected model without time-varying Recommendations for Resource Managers: This paper presents variable timing, can tool manage populations. usual identify at beginning yield and/or accounting related give rise time some intermediate point season. Controlling separately when while lead oscillation patterns population. Such not seen The affect implement harvest.