Dissertation Research: The Effects of Spatial Heterogeneity and Age Distribution on Predator-Prey Dynamics

尽管最近关于捕食的理论和实验研究 已经表明，在丰富的空间异质性 捕食者可以定性地影响捕食者-猎物的结果 捕食者聚集的机制是 知之甚少。 在这项研究中，现场实验和计算机 模拟将确定是否饥饿依赖移民 结果表明： Pentatomidae），负责其聚集模式， 其猎物为卷叶甲Leptinotarsa decimlineata， 科罗拉多马铃薯甲虫 在理论上也有相当多的注意力被投入到 年龄和阶段结构对捕食者-被捕食者关系的影响 交互. 年龄结构的一个重要影响发生在 幼年掠食者体型较小，只能攻击某些阶段 有效地捕捉猎物 因此，除了聚合 行为、捕食阶段对生长和存活的影响 的Perillus青少年，并对数字响应的 将检查Perillus种群。 关于聚集行为的信息以及 捕食阶段的数值响应将被用来评估 Perillus调节其猎物的能力，并评估其 作为生物控制剂的能力。

Although recent theoretical and empirical work on predation has shown that spatial heterogeneity in the abundance of predators can qualitatively affect the outcomes of predator-prey interactions, the mechanisms by which predators aggregate are poorly known. In this study field experiments and a computer simulation will determine whether the hunger dependent emigration rate of a stinkbug, Perillus bioculatus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is responsible for its pattern of aggregation to its prey Leptinotarsa decimlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), the Colorado Potato Beetle. Considerable theoretical attention has also been devoted to the effect of age and stage structure on predator-prey interactions. An important effect of age structure occurs when juvenile predators are small, and only able to attack some stages of their prey effectively. Therefore, in addition to aggregation behavior, the effect of prey stage on the growth and survivorship of Perillus juveniles, and on the numerical response of the Perillus population will be examined. The information on aggregation behavior and the effect of prey stage on the numerical response will be used to evaluate the ability of Perillus to regulate its prey, and to assess its competence as an agent of biological control.