Predicting the movement speeds of animals

该项目旨在揭示有袋动物在危险环境中如何改变它们的运动模式和速度，并展示运动如何促进脆弱性和适应力。运动是动物行为和物种生存的核心，因为它是觅食、交配和逃离捕食者能力的基础。然而，我们缺乏一个框架来预测动物在栖息地中应该以多快的速度移动，因为它们需要保存能量，避免被捕食者发现，并将受伤或死亡的风险降到最低。该项目旨在开发数学模型来预测动物的移动速度，然后使用受保护的本地物种来测试这些预测。预计这将扩展性能生态学领域，并为脆弱的有袋动物的管理策略提供信息。

The project seeks to reveal how marsupials modify their movement patterns and speeds as they navigate risky environments, and show how movement contributes to vulnerability and resilience. Movement is central to animal behaviour and the survival of species, because it underlies feeding, mating and the ability to escape from predators. However, we lack a framework for predicting how fast animals should move through their habitats given their needs to conserve energy, avoid detection by predators and minimise risks of injury or death. This project aims to develop mathematical models to predict how fast animals should move and then test these predictions using native species of conservation concern. This is expected to extend the field of performance ecology as well as inform management strategies for vulnerable marsupials.