DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Population Dynamics and Species Diversity of Decomposers of Patchy Substrates

小行星9623523 本研究的目的是研究真菌的种群动态和物种多样性，分解资源，如木材，树叶，或粪便，这是分布在离散的补丁。 生态学家从消费物种的模型中得出结论（例如，植物、食草动物等）这种斑块可以让两个物种在区域范围内共存，即使它们不能在局部范围内共存，但还没有对分解者进行类似的研究。 在这项研究中，基于消费者的模型已经改变，使其适用于分解者。 分解者模型预测，在一个斑块内，竞争的结果由以下因素控制：（1）斑块的初始资源密度，（2）分解者物种的资源需求，（3）物种繁殖所需的能量，以及（4）物种将资源转化为储存能量的效率。 许多斑块竞争的结果由以下因素控制：（1）斑块内竞争的结果，（2）所涉及物种的扩散能力，（3）新斑块进入环境的速度。 从模型中可以推断，那些促进两个物种共存的因素也会促进多个物种共存，从而增加物种多样性。 更好地了解分解者之间的竞争有许多潜在的应用，包括：（1）制定战略，打击经济上有害的分解者，（2）确定竞争如何影响养分循环，这可能会影响农业和生物修复实践，（3）开发保护物种多样性的方法。

9623523 Mueller The objective of this research is to examine the population dynamics and species diversity of fungi which decompose resources, such as wood, leaves, or dung, which are distributed in discrete patches. Ecologists have concluded from models of consumer species (e.g., plants, herbivore, etc.) that patchiness can allow two species to coexist on a regional scale even if they cannot coexist on a local scale, but there has been no comparable work with decomposers. For this study, consumer based models have been altered to make them applicable to decomposers. The decomposer model predicts that within a patch the outcome of competition is controlled by (1) initial resource density of the patch, (2) resource requirements of the decomposer species, (3) the amount of energy a species needs to reproduce, and (4) the efficiency of the species at converting resources to stored energy. The outcome of competition over many patches is controlled by (1) the outcome of within patch competition, (2) the dispersal ability of the species involved, and (3) the rate of input of new patches into the environment. It can be inferred from the models that those factors which promote coexistence of two species will also promote the coexistence of multiple species and thus increase species diversity. A better understanding of competition between decomposers has many potential applications including: (1) developing strategies to fight economically harmful decomposers, (2) determining how competition affects nutrient cycling, which could potentially impact agricultural and bioremediation practices, and (3) developing methods for conserving species diversity.