Instructors: Dan Rosenberg
Course Objectives:
The goal of the course is to introduce the concept of metapopulations,
methods for estimating their dynamics, and conservation applications.
The concept of the metapopulation provides a unifying theory for
spatial ecology, population ecology, population genetics, and
landscape ecology. Metapopulation theory has increasingly been
applied to understanding population dynamics, particularly for
endangered, harvested, and insect "pest" species, and has been
applied to conservation planning for a wide range of taxa and
ecosystems. We will explore these concepts and analytical methods
for estimating movement and persistence rates largely through
the reading of "Metapopulation Ecology", by Ilkka Hanski, one
of the leaders in the development of metapopulation theory and
application. We will also discuss recent research and applications
of the metapopulation concept within the Pacific Northwest, as
applied to both fish and bird populations.
Required Readings:
Dunham, J. B., and B. E. Reiman. 1999. Metapopulation structure
and bull trout: influences of physical, biotic, and geometrical
landscape characteristics. Ecol. Appl. 9:642-655.
Hanski, I. 1998, Metapopulation Ecology, Oxford Univ. Press.
Harrison, S., and A. D. Taylor. 1997. Empirical evidence for metapopulation
dynamics. Pp. 27-42 in Hanski and Gilpin (eds).
Hedrick, P. W. 1996. Genetics of metapopulations: aspects of a
comprehensive perspective. Pp. 29-52 in D. R. McCullough (ed.)
Hestbeck, J. B. et al. 1991. Estimates of movement and site fidelity
using mark-resight data of wintering Canada geese. Ecology 72:523-533.
Ims, R. A., and N. G. Yoccoz. 1997. Studying transfer processes
in metapopulations: emigration, migration, and colonization. Pp.
247-266 in Hanski and Gilpin (eds.).
Kareiva, P. 1990. Population dynamics in spatially complex environments:
theory and data. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
of London, Series B 330:175-190.
Levins, R. 1966. Strategy of model building in population biology.
Am. Scientist 54:421-431.
Nichols, J.D., T. Boulinier, J.E. Hines, K. H. Pollock and J.
R. Sauer, 1998. Estimating rates of local species extinction,
colonization, and turnover in animal communities. Ecological Applications
8: 1213-1225.
Oreskes, N., K. Shrader-Frechette, and K. Belitz. 1994. Verification,
validation, and confirmation of numerical models in the earth
sciences. Science 263:641-646.
Porter, J. H., and J. L. Dooley, Jr. 1993. Animal dispersal patterns:
a reassessment of simple mathematical models. Ecology 74:2436-2443.
Reiman, B. E., and J. B. Dunham 2000. Metapopulations and salmonids:
a synthesis of life history patterns and empirical observations.
Ecol. Freshwater Fish 9:51-64.
Wiens, J. A. 1996. Wildlife in patchy environments: metapopulations,
mosaics, and management. Pp. 53-84 in D. R. McCullough (ed.).
Additional Readings:
Caughley, G. 1994. Directions in conservation biology. J. Anim.
Ecol. 63:215-244.
Davis, G. J. and R. W. Howe. 1992. Juvenile dispersal, limited
breeding sites, and the dynamics of metapopulations. Theoretical
Population Biology 41:184-207.
Doak, D. F., and L. S. Mills. 1994. A useful role for theory in
conservation. Ecology 75:615-626.
Doebeli, M. and G. D Ruxton. 1998. Stabilization through spatial
pattern formation in metapopulations with long-range dispersal.
Proceedings of Royal Society of London, Series B 265: 1325-1332.
Driscoll, D. A. 1998. Genetic structure metapopulation processes
and evolution influence the conservation strategies for two endangered
frog species. Biological Conservation 83:43-54.
Gotelli, NJ. 1991. Metapopulation models: the rescue effect, the
propagule rain, and the core-satellite hypotheses. American Naturalist
138:768-776.
Hanski, I. And M. E. Gilpin (eds.) 1991. (papers in Vol 42, Nos.
1 and 2, Biol. J. Linn. Soc.).
Hanski, I., and M. E. Gilpin. 1997. Metapopulation Biology: Ecology,
Genetics, and Evolution. Academic Press, NY (in Valley Library,
Reserve QH352.M47 1997)
Harrison, S. and J. F. Quinn. 1989. Correlated environments and
the persistence of metapopulations. Oikos 56:293-298.
Hess, G.R. 1996. Linking extinction to connectivity and habitat
destruction in metapopulation models. American Naturalist 148:226-236.
Lubow, B. C. 1996. Optimal translocation strategies for enhancing
stochastic metapopulation viability. Ecological Applications 6:1268-1280.
Man, A., R. Law and NVC Polunin. 1995. Role of marine reserves
in recruitment to reef fisheries: a metapopulation model. Biological
Conservation 71:197-204.
McCullough, D. R. (ed). 1996. Metapopulations and wildlife conservation.
Island Press, Washington, D.C.
Oreskes, N., K. Shrader-Frechette, and K. Belitz. 1994. Verification,
validation, and confirmation of numerical models in the earth
sciences. Science 263:641-646.
Possingham, HP and I Davies. 1995. ALEX: a model for the viability
analysis of spatially structured populations. Biological Conservation
73:143-150 .
Rohani, P., RM May, and MP Hassell. 1996. Metapopulations and
equilibrium stability: the effects of spatial structure. Journal
of Theoretical Biology 181:97-109.
Sherratt, TN and PC Jepson. 1993. A metapopulation approach to
modeling the long-term impact of pesticides on invertebrates.
Journal of Applied Ecology 30:696-705.
Simberloff, D. 1988. The contribution of population and community
biology to conservation science. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 19:473-511.
Sjögren, P. 1991. Extinction and isolation gradients in metapopulations:
the case of the pool frog (Rana lessonae). Biological Journal
of the Linnaean Society 42: 135-147.
Trine, C. L. 1998. Wood thrush population sinks and implications
for the scale of regional conservation strategies. Conservation
Biology 12: 576-585.
Wooton, J.T. and D. A. Bell. 1992. A metapopulation model of the
peregrine falcon in California: viability and management strategies.
Ecological Applications 2: 307-321.
Source for Reading Materials:
The books (Hanski 1998, Hanski and Gilpin 1997, McCullough 1996)
are available at the Valley Library's reference desk (on hold
for this class). You will need to request the books by their call
numbers. Hanski 1998 is also available at the bookstore. We have
placed the remaining reading materials in the FW599 folder "Metapopulations"
in the library in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife (Nash
104 A). Additional readings may be particularly useful for discussion
leaders (see below).
Grading:
Grading will be based on class participation (50%) and leading
the discussion sessions (50%). There will be no tests.
Approach:
The material for the course will be based on the required reading
materials, with an emphasis on a conceptual understanding of the
material. Background material will be covered as needed during
lectures by the discussion leaders. The majority of the class
will be in a discussion format, led by a pair of students for
each class. We expect discussion leaders to have reviewed relevant
literature in addition to the assigned readings. We expect all
students to have read the reading materials prior to each class.
Only in this way will the discussions be interesting and informative.
We encourage students who find interesting additional readings
to bring them to class for discussion and add a copy to the box
in Nash 104 A.
Course Outline:
Note: readings are to be completed on the date given
