Speaker Michael Springborn - Invasive Fire Ants and the Long Term Impacts of Agroecosystem Adaptation

Abstract: Imported fire ants (IFA) rank among the most ecologically disruptive non-native species, but their impacts on economic activities and well-being are not well understood. This paper leverages historical data spanning 75 years of IFA spread in the U.S., alongside health and agricultural records, to quantify the agricultural and human impacts of a major biological invasion.

We find that IFA altered cropping outcomes, reduced pesticide use, and reduced infant mortality. Our findings highlight the complex and sometimes unexpected consequences of biological invasions on agricultural systems and human welfare.

Bio: Michael Springborn is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy at the University of California, Davis. He joined UC Davis in 2008 after completing his Ph.D. in the Economics and Environmental Science program at UC Santa Barbara.

Springborn uses econometric analysis, bioeconomic modeling and dynamic optimization to inform environmental policy and resource management. He has worked in several applied areas including invasive species, endangered species, disease, and wildfire.

His research often lies at the intersection of environmental and resource economics and decision-making under uncertainty, with a focus on coupled human–natural systems. For more information see his website here: https://springborn.faculty.ucdavis.edu/.