CRB: Habitat Quality: A Hidden Component of Wetland Fragmentation

栖息地破碎化的研究建立在对栖息地丧失、栖息地斑块隔离和栖息地边缘增加如何导致种群下降的理解之上。 这种理解反过来又形成了保护生物学中的保护设计原则的基础。 为了在未来设计保护区，传统的破碎化研究必须扩大到包括：（1）在栖息地中的斑块质量的变化对种群中的个体的影响，以及（2）随着时间的推移，这些影响如何影响种群的增长或下降。 在干旱的西部和世界大部分地区，包括灌溉和生活用水在内的几个因素共同导致了野生动物可用水的盐碱化的总趋势。 高盐含量已被证明对野生动物，特别是幼鸟构成严重的健康威胁。 该项目将确定幼小水鸟承受各种盐负荷的能力。 研究结果将使水资源管理部门能够预测盐碱化增加对野生动物造成的损失。 最终，结果可以作为影响生存的因素纳入人口模型。 这些模拟结果将允许湿地保护区设计的重大改进。

The study of habitat fragmentation has been built upon an understanding of 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 resepve design in conservation biology. In order to design reserves in the future, traditional studies of fragmentation must be augmented to include: (1) the effect of variation in patch quality in the habitat remaining on individuals in the population, and (2) how these effects over time affect population growth or decline. In the arid west, and throughout much of the world, several factors including irrigation and domestic water use, have combined to result in a general trend toward salinization of water available for wildlife. High salt levels have been shown to pose serious health threats to wildlife, especially young birds. This project will determine the capacity of young water birds to withstand various salt loads. The results will allow water management to predict the costs to wildlife of increased salinization. Eventually, results can be integrated into population models as factors affecting survival. These modeling results will allow for major improvements in wetland reserve design.