NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2013

2013 财年 NSF 生物学博士后奖学金

• 批准号: 1309144
• 负责人: Shannon Pittman
• 金额: $ 20.7万
• 依托单位: Pittman Shannon E
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Fellowship Award
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1309144&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: NSF; Postdoctoral; Fellowship; Biology; FY

Investigating the influence of movement behavior on the spatial spread of invasive species: A case study with the Burmese python in South Florida Predicting the geographic spread of invasive species is central to understanding and predicting their ecological impacts. Numerous studies have acknowledged that an accounting of complex animal behaviors in models of spatial spread give rise to more accurate predictions of the dynamics of invasions. Individual-based models can incorporate behavioral complexity in movement and provide a method for predicting the effects of movement and dispersal strategies on spread dynamics. The Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus), a native of southern Asia, is established in South Florida and is currently expanding its range northward through the Florida peninsula and southward into the Florida Keys. The fellow will analyze empirical studies on the movement capacity of Burmese pythons and use these data to parameterize spatially-explicit, individual-based models to investigate the influence of movement behavior on Burmese python spread dynamics. This study will provide informative predictions of spread rate and invasion routes of pythons and insight into the influence of movement and navigational capacity on species' population dynamics. The fellow will develop expertise in computer simulation modeling, mathematical modeling, and empirical data analysis. This project will result in additions to a simulation model (SEARCH) that is available for use by wildlife and natural resource managers. The teaching plan includes training undergraduates in research, developing lectures for entry-level undergraduate science classes, and designing and implementing an upper-level undergraduate biology course in dynamic modeling. The fellow will mentor underrepresented minority students through the Davidson Research Initiative, TERRA Environmental Center, and the Ada Jenkins Center.

研究运动行为对入侵物种空间传播的影响：以南佛罗里达州的缅甸蟒蛇为例，预测入侵物种的地理传播是理解和预测其生态影响的核心。许多研究已经承认，在空间扩散模型中对复杂的动物行为进行解释，可以产生对入侵动态的更准确的预测。基于个体的模型可以包含运动中的行为复杂性，并为预测运动和扩散策略对传播动力学的影响提供了一种方法。原产于南亚的缅甸蟒蛇(Python Molurus Bivittatus)生活在佛罗里达州南部，目前正向北扩展活动范围，穿过佛罗里达半岛，向南进入佛罗里达群岛。该研究员将分析关于缅甸蟒蛇运动能力的实证研究，并利用这些数据将空间显式的、基于个体的模型参数化，以调查运动行为对缅甸蟒蛇传播动力学的影响。这项研究将为蟒蛇的传播速度和入侵路线提供信息预测，并深入了解迁徙和航行能力对物种种群动态的影响。该研究员将发展计算机模拟建模、数学建模和经验数据分析方面的专业知识。该项目将增加一个模拟模型(搜索)，可供野生动物和自然资源管理人员使用。该教学计划包括培养本科生的研究能力，为入门级本科理科课程开发讲座，以及设计和实施一门高水平的动态建模本科生物学课程。这位研究员将通过戴维森研究倡议、Terra环境中心和Ada Jenkins中心指导未被充分代表的少数族裔学生。