1. Biodiversity in Pattern and Process

Below you find the available BSc and/or MSc projects available in the category "Biodiversity in Pattern and Process".

The effects of habitat (de)fragmentation and dispersal on METE’s species abundance distribution estimation (BSc/MSc)

Supervisor(s): Monique de Jager
Project type: internship or writing assignment
Starting period: flexible
Duration: flexible

Keywords:  Maximum entropy theory in ecology, Community dynamics, Individual-based modelling

    With maximum entropy models, the species abundance distribution pattern of a healthy community can  be quite accurately described. Many communities are, however, not in a healthy state, as they are experiencing the effects of anthropogenic changes. One of these changes to the environment is severe habitat fragmentation. Due to habitat fragmentation, dispersal between communities becomes more difficult. Such dispersal limitation impairs gene flow and colonization by new species, amongst others. Furthermore, habitat fragmentation reduces population size and thereby can have additional effects, such as increasing genetic and ecological drift. To estimate the state of communities and their level of fragmentation, we examine changes in METE’s prediction of the species abundance distribution of simulated data. Using a simple individual-based model, we simulate community assembly and dynamics under changing fragmentation conditions.

    Prerequisites: 

    • This project involves modeling and data analysis in R (potentially rewriting the script to C++ or python). Some experience with R is required.

    Selected literature: