Metapopulation Dynamics of the New England Cobble Beach Plant Community

本研究的目的是确定景观特征和物种生活史特征（即，一年生植物对多年生植物和稀有物种对常见物种）相互作用以确定大规模（即，10公里至100公里）的植物种群分布和动态。 栖息地斑块大小和距离最近的邻居人口的因素被认为是控制人口灭绝和随后的重新殖民的空置位置的概率。 很少进行实地研究来检验这些预测。 本次调查将集中在美国RI的纳拉甘塞特湾的沿海湿地植物。 全球定位系统技术将用于绘制湿地生境的位置，每年对20 x 30公里研究区域内的350个生境斑块进行调查，将记录12种植物物种的种群灭绝和斑块重新定居。了解景观特征如何影响种群的大规模动态是生物保护的基础。 例如，这些信息可用于优化海洋保护区的设计，确保保护区网络足够大，彼此足够接近，以维持稀有和濒危物种的稳定种群。 这项研究还将使资源管理人员能够发现和减轻环境影响对这个和其他湿地栖息地的影响。

The goal of this study is to determine how characteristics of the landscape and species life history traits (i.e., annuals vs. perennials and rare vs. common species) interact to determine the large-scale (i.e., 10 km to 100 km) distribution and dynamics of plant populations. Factors such as habitat patch size and the distance from the nearest neighboring population are thought to control the probabilities of population extinction and the subsequent re-colonization of a vacant location. Very few field studies have been performed to test these predictions. This investigation will focus on coastal wetland plants in Narragansett Bay, RI, USA. GPS technologies will be used to map out the location of wetland habitats and yearly surveys of 350 habitat patches within a 20 x 30 km study area will document population extinction and patch re-colonization by 12 plant species. Understanding how landscape characteristics affect the large-scale dynamics of populations is fundamental to biological conservation. For example, such information can be used to optimally design marine reserves, ensuring that networks of protected areas are large enough and close enough to each other to maintain stable populations of rare and endangered species. This study will also enable resource managers to detect and mitigate the effects of environmental impacts to this and other wetland habitats.