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Research article2014Peer reviewedOpen access

A model for non-equilibrium metapopulation dynamics utilizing data on species occupancy, patch ages and landscape history

Ruete, Alejandro; Fritz, Örjan; Snäll, Tord

Abstract

Synthesis. The presented approach uses data on only species occurrence, patch age and landscape history to estimate the species colonization rate and dispersal kernel. It can also utilize independent data on local extinction rate. Rather than identifying factors explaining the occurrence pattern, the model estimates the rate of change in the occurrence pattern. This dynamic modelling allows testing general and applied questions on the dynamics or viability of metapopulations of sessile species. The approach is applicable for species whose distribution pattern reflects the past rather than the current landscape structure, for example, certain epiphytes and ground-floor plants.

Keywords

sessile species; Bayesian inference; habitat fragmentation; extinction rate; colonization rate; beech forest; epixylic; equilibrium; epiphytic; dispersal

Published in

Journal of Ecology
2014, Volume: 102, number: 3, pages: 678-689
Publisher: WILEY-BLACKWELL

      SLU Authors

      • UKÄ Subject classification

      Ecology

      Publication identifier

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12229

      Permanent link to this page (URI)

      https://res.slu.se/id/publ/56456