QEIB: Stochastic Spatial Spread: Models and Experiments

一个物种扩展范围的速度取决于该物种的特征以及时间和空间的随机变化。这是一个很难在自然界中研究的问题，因为可能涉及到大的时间和空间尺度，并且缺乏可重复性。为了解决这些限制，本项目在实验室中使用面粉甲虫（Tribolium castaneum）作为模型系统来研究这个问题。这项研究将包括许多人工景观和不同人口参数在孵化器控制条件下的复制。实验工作将与包含变异性的数学模型的发展相协调。这些模型将允许扩展到其他系统和一般原则的发展。空间扩散问题具有重要的科学意义和现实意义。入侵物种的传播是美国面临的最重要和最昂贵的环境问题之一。然而，关于传播的可预测性如何，以及人口参数如何影响传播，基本上没有详细的、重复的实验。正如目前的问题所表明的那样，许多生态问题的进展依赖于实验和数学方法的联合应用，因此本科生在这项工作过程中所接受的训练将具有非常重要的长期影响。

How fast a species expands its range depends on characteristics of the species and on random variation in time and space. This is a difficult problem to study in nature because of the large time and space scales that may be involved, and the lack of repeatability. To address these limitation, this project examines the problem in the laboratory using the flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, as a model system. The study will include many replicates of artificial landscapes and varying demographic parameters under controlled conditions in an incubator. The experimental work will be coordinated with the development of mathematical models that incorporate variability. The models will allow extension to other systems and the development of general principles.The problem of spatial spread is of both great scientific and practical importance. The spread of invasive species is one of the most important and costly environmental issues facing the United States. Yet, there have been essentially no detailed, repeated experiments on how predictable spread is, and on how demographic parameters affect spread. As the current problem illustrates, progress in many ecological problems depends on the joint application of experimental and mathematical methods, so the training received by undergraduates during the course of this work will have very significant long term impacts.