Doctoral Dissertation Research in Geography and Regional Science

自然保护区已被公认为一个重要的手段， 保护各种各样的生物物种，但这种保护 一般来说，是按个别地点选定有关地区。 生态学家和生态学家越来越意识到， 可持续性和适应性也是重要标准， 以最大限度地发挥储备的效益，并补充 一套储备（而不是一个独立的不相关的集合 地点）提供了最大的潜力， 最广泛的动植物物种。 这个博士 论文研究项目将测试的假设，一个系统的 自然保护区，这是系统地选择使用现行的 景观生态学和保护生物学的原则，将更多 比传统的方法更有效地保护生物物种 一次选一个后备队 假设将被检验 通过开发小规模地理信息系统 (GIS)其中一个案例研究地区的数据来自两个大岛， 西萨摩亚将被加载。 这些关于植物、动物、 土壤、其他物理特征、人文特征和土地 将分析所有权，以确定一组核心站点， 连接每个岛屿上的走廊，构成系统的基础 自然保护区。 由此产生的储备集将是 系统地相互比较，与随机生成的 假设的网络，以及基于其他研究的网络 学者 这些分析将为发展提供基础 一般地理模型来描述应该 包括在最好地保护植物群和动物群的保护区系统中。 这项研究的实际成果将包括 制定自然保护区的具体计划， 由西萨摩亚政府执行。 更长的时间- 然而，术语效益是一般地理分布的具体说明。 通过自然保护区网络进行物种保护的模式。 该模型可以使用独立数据模拟其他站点， 为了确定其普遍性，因此提供了更广泛的 了解自然保护区系统如何改变利率的基础 植物和动物物种之间的变化。

Nature reserves have been recognized as an important means of preserving a diverse range of biological species, but such protected areas have generally been selected on a site-by-site basis. Ecologists and biogeographers have a growing sense that ecological sustainability and adaptability also are important criteria that must be met to maximize the benefits of reserves, and that a complementary set of reserves (rather than an unrelated collection of independent sites) offers the greatest potential for preserving the largest number and broadest range of plant and animal species. This doctoral dissertation research project will test the hypothesis that a system of nature reserves, which is systematically selected using prevailing principles of landscape ecology and conservation biology, will be more effective in preserving biological species than will traditional means of selecting reserves one at a time. The hypothesis will be tested through development of a small-scale geographic information system (GIS) into which data for a case study area on two large islands in Western Samoa will be loaded. These data on vegetation, animals, soils, other physical characteristics, human features, and land ownership will be analyzed to determine a set of core sites and connecting corridors on each island to constitute the bases of systems of nature reserves. The resulted sets of reserves will be systematically compared with each other, with randomly generated hypothetical networks, and with networks based on research by other scholars. These analyses then will provide the basis for development of general geographic models to describe the locales that should be included in a system of reserves that best preserves flora and fauna. The practical results of this research will include the development of a specific plan for nature reserves for possible implementation by the Western Samoan government. Of far greater long- term benefit, however, is the specification of a general geographic model for species preservation through a network of nature reserves. This model can be simulated for other sites using independent data in order to determine its generalizability, therefore providing a broader base of understanding of how systems of nature reserves can alter rates of change among plant and animal species.