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Optimal Translocation Strategies for Enhancing Stochastic Metapopulation Viability
Numerous methods have been proposed for enhancing species viability. Much attention has been given to the minimum required number of individuals, size and number of nature reserves, and value of habitat corridors. Surprisingly, however, the potential value of active management of a population through a program of translocations has only rarely been suggested, and explicit formulations of a theoretical basis for such a program are nonexistent. By drawing on the mathematical optimization technique known as dynamic programming, I develop an optimal dynamic strategy for translocation in a model population. I demonstrate this approach using a simple model for a hypothetical remnant population with two available habitat reserves incorporating demographic, environmental, and catastrophic forms of stochasticity. I then generalize the results by examining the effect on the cost and effectiveness of optimal translocation management of reserve size, population growth rate, environmental stochasticity, catastrophe size and frequency, translocation mortality rate, spatial correlation of population dynamics, and reserve size asymmetry. Simulated application of the optimal strategies, under a wide range of conditions, demonstrates that managed translocations averaging between 1 and 6 individuals/yr might dramatically enhance the probability of species persistence and reduce the required size of nature reserves, potentially by >1 order of magnitude. Given prohibitive financial and political costs of land acquisition for nature reserves, this technique could provide an important alternative for saving many endangered species.
Optimal Translocation Strategies for Enhancing Stochastic Metapopulation Viability
Numerous methods have been proposed for enhancing species viability. Much attention has been given to the minimum required number of individuals, size and number of nature reserves, and value of habitat corridors. Surprisingly, however, the potential value of active management of a population through a program of translocations has only rarely been suggested, and explicit formulations of a theoretical basis for such a program are nonexistent. By drawing on the mathematical optimization technique known as dynamic programming, I develop an optimal dynamic strategy for translocation in a model population. I demonstrate this approach using a simple model for a hypothetical remnant population with two available habitat reserves incorporating demographic, environmental, and catastrophic forms of stochasticity. I then generalize the results by examining the effect on the cost and effectiveness of optimal translocation management of reserve size, population growth rate, environmental stochasticity, catastrophe size and frequency, translocation mortality rate, spatial correlation of population dynamics, and reserve size asymmetry. Simulated application of the optimal strategies, under a wide range of conditions, demonstrates that managed translocations averaging between 1 and 6 individuals/yr might dramatically enhance the probability of species persistence and reduce the required size of nature reserves, potentially by >1 order of magnitude. Given prohibitive financial and political costs of land acquisition for nature reserves, this technique could provide an important alternative for saving many endangered species.
Optimal Translocation Strategies for Enhancing Stochastic Metapopulation Viability
Lubow, Bruce C. (author)
Ecological Applications ; 6 ; 1268-1280
1996-11-01
13 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English