Dissertation Research: Shorebird Populations and Fragmented Wetlands

9422526或栖息地碎片化的研究建立在了解栖息地丧失、栖息地斑块的隔离和栖息地边缘增加如何导致种群下降的基础上。这一认识反过来又构成了保护生物学中保护区设计原则的基础。为了在未来设计储量，必须加强对碎片化的传统研究。这项研究将使用美国鳄梨(Recurvirostra Americana)种群来评估碎片化的效果。研究将在三个尺度上进行。在个人尺度上，将使用标记/重新审视的方法来了解个人的运动模式。在种群尺度上，采用系统动力学建模方法构建种群模型。在景观尺度上，数据将被用来发展对斑块之间关系的空间上的明确理解。所进行的研究将为保护生物学领域做出理论和应用贡献。首先，它将直接回答有关内陆湿地保护区设计和保护的应用问题。其次，它将评估湿地丧失与湿地退化对鸟类种群的重要性。这一理解对于在发生栖息地丧失和退化的地方进行科学保护区设计的基本原则至关重要，研究结果将应用于世界各地的保护区设计。

9422526 ORING The study of habitat fragmentation has been built upon understanding how lost habitat, isolation of habitat patches, and increased habitat edge lead to declines in populations. This understanding has, in turn, formed the foundation for principles of reserve design in conservation biology. In order to design reserves in the future, traditional studies of fragmentation must be augmented. This study will evaluate the effects of fragmentation using a population of American avocets (Recurvirostra americana). Research will be conducted at three scales. At the individual scale, mark/resighting methods will be used to understand individual movement patterns. At the population scale, system dynamics modeling will be used to construct a population model. At the landscape scale, data will be used to develop a spatially explicit understanding of the relationship between patches. Research conducted will make theoretical and applied contributions to the field of conservation biology. First, it will provide direct answers to applied questions about reserve design and conservation of inland wetlands. Second, it will evaluate the importance of wetland loss versus wetland degradation for avian populations. This understanding is critical to the basic principles of scientific reserve design wherever loss and degradation of habitat are occurring, and findings will have application to reserve design worldwide.