LTREB : A Long-Term Study of Metacommunity Dynamics of Amphibians and Their Predators

这笔拨款将继续我们在密歇根大学E. S. George保护区的37个池塘中对14种两栖动物及其捕食者的种群规模进行长期调查。这项调查提供了一个独特的数据库，研究了大面积两栖动物的长期动态。鉴于世界范围内两栖动物种群数量的下降，这些数据至关重要，可以解释两栖动物种群的趋势，以及对气候变化、外来物种引入或新出现的疾病等因素的反应。我们还解决了生态学中的一个核心问题；例如，这些物种的本地（池塘）和区域（景观）种群动态之间的关系是什么？这个问题越来越重要，因为生态学家被要求开发方法，将生态过程的小规模研究带到关注保护生物学和管理的更大规模动态。特别是，目前的淡水湿地保护策略基本上忽略了湿地之间的联系（动物的运动）的作用。拟议的研究将提高我们对这些栖息地之间的人口联系的理解，并使更有效的管理战略成为可能。

This grant continues our long-term survey work on population sizes of 14 species of amphibians and their predators in 37 ponds on the University of Michigan's E. S. George Reserve. This survey is providing a unique database on the long-term dynamics of amphibians over a large area. Such data are critical in light of the worldwide decline in amphibian populations and permit interpretation of trends in amphibian populations, and responses to factors such as climate change, introduction of exotic species, or emerging diseases. We additionally address a central current question in ecology; i.e. what is the relationship between local (pond) and regional (landscape) population dynamics of these species. This question is increasingly important as ecologists are asked to develop methods to take small scale studies of ecological processes to the larger scale dynamics of concern to conservation biology and management. In particular, current conservation strategies for freshwater wetlands essentially ignore the role of connections (movement of animals) among wetlands. The proposed research will improve our understanding of the demographic linkages among these habitats, and enable more effective management strategies.