Population Dynamics in Variable Environments

可变环境中的种群动态

• 批准号: 0414118
• 负责人: Henry Wilbur
• 金额: $ 31.5万
• 依托单位: University of Virginia Main Campus
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-08-15 至 2008-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0414118&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Population; Dynamics; Variable; Environments

In this project PI Henry Wilbur continues his studies of population dynamics and life history evolution in variable environments by monitoring 18 species of amphibians breeding in 32 natural ponds. All individuals of two species are followed in three ponds to explicitly measure vital rates, such as the probabilities of survival, reproduction, and movement between ponds. This study employs software developed for the project to recognize individuals from digital photographs taken as they move in and out of the pond, and new statistical techniques to estimate vital rates from these data. A second approach monitors breeding attempts and successful metamorphosis of all species in all ponds. The primary source of environmental variation is the local weather that is being linked explicitly to the hydrology of each pond. Natural populations are influenced by many sources of variation from regional weather systems to random effects on individuals in small populations, such as opportunities to reproduce or exposure to mortality risks. It is important to understand the impact of this variation on population dynamics to make wise decisions about the management and conservation of natural populations, to decide how to protect species of conservation concern, to exploit populations for economic gain, or to control pests. This project also serves to train students in field biology and population modeling.

在这个项目中，PI亨利威尔伯通过监测32个天然池塘中18种两栖动物的繁殖情况，继续他在可变环境中的种群动态和生活史进化的研究。 两个物种的所有个体在三个池塘中进行跟踪，以明确测量生命率，例如生存，繁殖和池塘之间移动的概率。 这项研究采用了为该项目开发的软件，从数字照片中识别出进出池塘的个体，并采用新的统计技术从这些数据中估计生命率。 第二种方法监测所有池塘中所有物种的繁殖尝试和成功变态。 环境变化的主要来源是当地的天气，这与每个池塘的水文有着明确的联系。自然种群受到许多变异来源的影响，从区域天气系统到小种群中个体的随机效应，如繁殖机会或死亡风险。 重要的是要了解这种变化对种群动态的影响，对自然种群的管理和保护做出明智的决定，决定如何保护物种的保护问题，利用人口的经济利益，或控制害虫。 该项目还用于培训学生野外生物学和种群建模。