BIOCOMPLEXITY -- INCUBATION ACTIVITY: Connectivity of Migratory Populations and its Consequences for Population Dynamics and Microevolutionary Processes

迁徙涉及个体在地理上分离的地点之间的迁徙，是包括鸟类在内的许多分类群的共同生活史特征。我们对个体在迁徙物种种群之间的移动以及这些移动的后果的理解仍然处于初级水平，这在很大程度上是因为事实证明，追踪个体几乎是不可能的。分子遗传学和地球化学(例如同位素示踪剂)方面的最新技术进步现在提供了可用于解决这些复杂问题的工具。我们提议举办两个不同的讲习班，以制定和完善衡量候鸟迁徙和扩散模式的综合方法，并通过模拟评估这些迁徙对种群动态和微观进化的影响。这些研讨会将汇集该领域的专家，重点是：(1)来自同位素、分子遗传学和种群研究的数据如何结合起来，以开发一个关于夏季和冬季迁徙物种种群之间联系的稳健模型，以及(2)种群联系强与弱的理论后果。更好地理解迁徙是生态学、进化和保护中的几个问题的核心。最迫切的需要，也是迄今为止似乎最棘手的问题，是确定(1)夏季和冬季种群之间的个体迁徙模式，以及(2)从出生地点到最终繁殖地点的传播率和距离。前者对于确定限制因素(包括栖息地破坏的影响、气候变化的影响等)非常重要。在鸟类年度周期的不同部分进行活动决定了当地的种群数量，从而决定了种群的动态。后者是评估种群间的基因流动及其对当地适应和物种形成的影响所必需的。此外，许多迁徙鸣禽的数量正在下降，因此，迫切需要了解决定其丰度的因素，这些因素可能在繁殖期和/或非繁殖期起作用。

Migration involves the movement of individuals between geographically separated sites, and is a common life history trait in many taxa, including birds. Our understanding of the movement of individuals among populations of migratory species, and the consequences of these movements, remains rudimentary, in large part because tracking individuals has proven near impossible. Recent technological advances, in both molecular genetics and geochemistry (e.g., isotopic tracers), now provide tools that can be used to address these complex questions. We propose to hold two separate workshops to develop and refine an integrated approach for measuring movement and dispersal patterns of migratory birds and for assessing through modeling the consequences of these movements for population dynamics and microevolution. These workshops will bring together experts in the field and will focus on: (1) how data from isotopic, molecular genetic, and population studies can be combined to develop a robust model of the connections between summer and winter populations of migratory species, and (2) the theoretical consequences of strong versus weak population connectivity.A better understanding of migration is central to several issues in ecology, evolution and conservation. The most pressing need, and to date the most seemingly intractable problem, has been in determining (1) the movement patterns of individuals between summer and winter populations and (2) dispersal rates and distances from natal sites to eventual breeding locations. The former is important for determining how limiting factors (including impact of habitat destruction, effects of climate change, etc.) operating in different parts of the birds' annual cycle determine local abundances and thus population dynamics. The latter is needed for assessing gene flow among populations and its effects on local adaptation and speciation. In addition, many migratory songbirds are undergoing population declines, and thus an understanding of the factors that determine their abundances, which could operate in breeding and/or non-breeding periods, is of urgent conservation concern.