LTREB : A Long-Term Study of Metacommunity Dynamics of Amphibians and Their Predators

这项资助继续了我们对密歇根大学东海岸37个池塘中14种两栖动物及其捕食者种群规模的长期调查工作。S.乔治储备。这项调查提供了一个关于大面积两栖动物长期动态的独特数据库。鉴于世界范围内两栖动物种群的下降，这些数据至关重要，并允许解释两栖动物种群的趋势，以及对气候变化，外来物种引进或新出现的疾病等因素的反应。我们还解决了当前生态学的一个中心问题;即这些物种的本地（池塘）和区域（景观）种群动态之间的关系是什么。这个问题是越来越重要的生态学家被要求开发的方法，采取小规模的生态过程的研究，以更大规模的动态保护生物学和管理的关注。特别是，目前的淡水湿地保护战略基本上忽略了湿地之间的联系（动物的运动）的作用。拟议的研究将提高我们对这些栖息地之间的人口联系的理解，并使更有效的管理策略。

This grant continues our long-term survey work on population sizes of 14 species of amphibians and their predators in 37 ponds on the University of Michigan's E. S. George Reserve. This survey is providing a unique database on the long-term dynamics of amphibians over a large area. Such data are critical in light of the worldwide decline in amphibian populations and permit interpretation of trends in amphibian populations, and responses to factors such as climate change, introduction of exotic species, or emerging diseases. We additionally address a central current question in ecology; i.e. what is the relationship between local (pond) and regional (landscape) population dynamics of these species. This question is increasingly important as ecologists are asked to develop methods to take small scale studies of ecological processes to the larger scale dynamics of concern to conservation biology and management. In particular, current conservation strategies for freshwater wetlands essentially ignore the role of connections (movement of animals) among wetlands. The proposed research will improve our understanding of the demographic linkages among these habitats, and enable more effective management strategies.