首页 | 本学科首页   官方微博 | 高级检索  
     


Foundations of spatial ecology: the reification of patches through quantitative description of patterns and pattern repetition
Authors:D. Dalthorp   J. Nyrop  M.G. Villani
Affiliation:Department of Entomology, Cornell University, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, NY 14456, USA
Abstract:Insect populations tend to be patchy, and the nature of the patches is a critical component of ecology. Predator-prey interactions, coexistence of competing species, survival of rare species as habitat is destroyed, and damage to crops are just a few examples of spatially-dependent ecological processes. For want of tractable quantitative approaches, understanding of spatial ecology has lagged far behind recognition of its importance. We assert that a quantitative foundation of a spatial ecology involves the reification of patches as objects of study. We introduce two new measures of patch dynamics: total covariance for comparing degrees of patchiness between populations, and quantile variance for quantifying the constancy of dispersion patterns through time. These new measures, in combination with the long-established spatial covariance from geostatistics, comprise a rudimentary toolbox for reification of patches and empirical field studies in spatial ecology.
Keywords:spatial covariance    quantile variance    total covariance    dispersion    patchiness
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录!
设为首页 | 免责声明 | 关于勤云 | 加入收藏

Copyright©北京勤云科技发展有限公司  京ICP备09084417号