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（即一年生植物与多年生植物、稀有物种与常见物种）如何相互作用，以确定大尺度（即10公里至100公里）植物种群的分布和动态。生境斑块大小和与最近邻近种群的距离等因素被认为控制着种群灭绝的概率以及随后在空缺位置重新殖民的可能性。很少进行实地研究来检验这些预测。本研究以美国罗德岛纳拉甘西特湾的沿海湿地植物为研究对象。全球定位系统技术将用于绘制湿地生境的位置，并在20 x 30公里的研究范围内对350个生境斑块进行年度调查，记录12种植物的种群灭绝和斑块重新定居。了解景观特征如何影响大规模种群动态是生物保护的基础。例如，这些信息可以用来优化设计海洋保护区，确保保护区网络足够大，彼此足够近，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者能够发现和减轻环境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.