Biology – Quantitative Biology – Populations and Evolution
Scientific paper
2010-10-06
Biology
Quantitative Biology
Populations and Evolution
Scientific paper
Traditional approaches to ecosystem modelling have relied on spatially homogeneous approximations to interaction, growth and death. More recently, spatial interaction and dispersal have also been considered. While these leads to certain changes in community dynamics, their effect is sometimes fairly minimal, and demographic scenarios in which this difference is important have not been systematically investigated. We take a simple mean-field model which simulates birth, growth and death processes, and rewrite it with spatially distributed discrete individuals. Each individual's growth and mortality is determined by a competition measure which captures the effects of neighbours in a way which retains the conceptual simplicity of a generic, analytically-solvable model. Although the model is generic, we here parameterise it using data from Caledonian Scots Pine stands. The dynamics of simulated populations, starting from a plantation lattice configuration, mirror those of well-established qualitative descriptions of natural forest stand behaviour; an analogy which assists in understanding the transition from artificial to old-growth structure. When parameterised for Scots Pine populations, the signature of spatial processes is evident, but they do not have a large effect on first-order statistics such as density and biomass. The sensitivity of this result to variation in each individual rate parameter is investigated; distinct differences between spatial and mean-field models are seen only upon alteration of the interaction strength parameters, and in low density populations. Under the Scots Pine parameterisation, dispersal also has an effect of spatial structure, but not first-order properties. Only in more intense competitive scenarios does altering the relative scales of dispersal and interaction lead to a clear signal in first order behaviour.
Ackland Graeme
Edwards Colin
Marion Glenn
\ast Thomas Adams
No associations
LandOfFree
Effects of local interaction and dispersal on the dynamics of size-structured populations does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Effects of local interaction and dispersal on the dynamics of size-structured populations, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Effects of local interaction and dispersal on the dynamics of size-structured populations will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-428236