Perturbation analysis for patch occupancy dynamics

Ecology
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Abstract

Perturbation analysis is a powerful tool to study population and community dynamics. This article describes expressions for sensitivity metrics reflecting changes in equilibrium occupancy resulting from small changes in the vital rates of patch occupancy dynamics (i.e., probabilities of local patch colonization and extinction). We illustrate our approach with a case study of occupancy dynamics of Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) nesting territories. Examination of the hypothesis of system equilibrium suggests that the system satisfies equilibrium conditions. Estimates of vital rates obtained using patch occupancy models are used to estimate equilibrium patch occupancy of eagles. We then compute estimates of sensitivity metrics and discuss their implications for eagle population ecology and management. Finally, we discuss the intuition underlying our sensitivity metrics and then provide examples of ecological questions that can be addressed using perturbation analyses. For instance, the sensitivity metrics lead to predictions about the relative importance of local colonization and local extinction probabilities in influencing equilibrium occupancy for rare and common species.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Perturbation analysis for patch occupancy dynamics
Series title Ecology
DOI 10.1890/08-0646.1
Volume 90
Issue 1
Year Published 2009
Language English
Publisher Ecological Society of America
Contributing office(s) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Description 7 p.
First page 10
Last page 16
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