Explaining species diversity in a fractal world

这个项目旨在提高我们对物种多样性的景观尺度模式的理解，特别是无脊椎动物。生态学的一个核心问题是栖息地的斑块如何与扩散能力相互作用，从而决定物种的多样性。由于在景观尺度上量化栖息地斑块和分散的逻辑困难，缺乏对假设的实地检验。一个新的模型提出，分形（一种测量环境复杂性的聪明方法）可以捕捉栖息地的斑块性和物种的反应。河流生态学的进步已经解决了逻辑问题，并将允许测试来比较关于物种多样性的三种主要假设。该项目旨在改善有关哪些工具将提供最佳指导的信息，使生态和保护管理人员受益。

This project aims to improve our understanding of landscape-scale patterns of species diversity, particularly invertebrates. A central question in ecology asks how habitat patchiness interacts with dispersal abilities to determine species diversity. Field tests of hypotheses are lacking due to logistic difficulties in quantifying habitat patchiness and dispersal over landscape scales. A new model proposes that fractals (a clever way of measuring environmental complexity) can capture both habitat patchiness and species' responses. Advances in river ecology have solved the logistic problems and will allow tests to compare the three main hypotheses about species diversity. The project aims to improve information about which tools will provide the best guidance, benefitting the discipline of ecology and conservation managers.