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Population Biology

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Invasive species

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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

An Agent-Based Modeling Approach To Determine Winter Survival Rates Of American Robins And Eastern Bluebirds, Samuel Iselin, Shannon Segin, Alex Capaldi Dec 2015

An Agent-Based Modeling Approach To Determine Winter Survival Rates Of American Robins And Eastern Bluebirds, Samuel Iselin, Shannon Segin, Alex Capaldi

Alex Capaldi

American Robins (Turdus migratorius) and Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) are two species of migratory thrushes that breed in Northwest Indiana but historically are uncommon during the winter season. These trends have changed recently, and both species are seen more abundantly during the winter. Recently invaded non-native fruiting plants continue to provide nutrients for the birds throughout the winter and may contribute to the increased avian populations during that time. To measure the effect these food sources contribute to thrush wintering habits, we created an agent-based computer model to simulate the birds' movement in Northwest Indiana along …


The Complexity Of Amphibian Population Declines: Understanding The Role Of Cofactors In Driving Amphibian Losses, Andrew Blaustein, Barbara Han, Rick Relyea, Pieter Johnson, Julia Buck, Stephanie Gervasi, Lee Kats Feb 2011

The Complexity Of Amphibian Population Declines: Understanding The Role Of Cofactors In Driving Amphibian Losses, Andrew Blaustein, Barbara Han, Rick Relyea, Pieter Johnson, Julia Buck, Stephanie Gervasi, Lee Kats

Lee Kats

Population losses and extinctions of species are occurring at unprecedented rates, as exemplified by declines and extinctions of amphibians worldwide. However, studies of amphibian population declines generally do not address the complexity of the phenomenon or its implications for ecological communities, focusing instead on single factors affecting particular amphibian species. We argue that the causes for amphibian population declines are complex; may differ among species, populations, and life stages within a population; and are context dependent with multiple stressors interacting to drive declines. Because amphibians are key components of communities, we emphasize the importance of investigating amphibian declines at the …