Abstract
We investigate the role of spatial heterogeneity in the maintenance of biodiversity. A novel feature in our models is that we couple the dynamics of habitat patches with the dynamics of populations. The models incorporate feedback mechanisms between the organism and its environment. We wish to identify those spatial structures which can seriously threaten the survival of a population, and compare the efficiency of various landscape management techniques (creation of ecological corridors, opening new reserves, etc.). Beside the study of spatial heterogeneity, we also model some effects of temporal heterogeneity. We examine the impact of various disturbance regimes on genetic diversity, based on data from flooding experiments. The models connect two time scales: (1) On the ecological time scale, we monitor the process of extinction. Individual performance of the strategies will be compared with performance in competition. We study the ways how ecological competition can accelerate extinction, and change the dynamics of decline. (2) On an evolutionary time scale, we model adaptation to the abiotic environment and to competitors. We identify the evolutionary stable spatial strategies, and evaluate the relative importance of different selective factors in their formation. The subject of this project is basic research, but we wish to outlook for applications at several points in the context of reserve design and management.
Hungary