LE3 .A278 2004

2004

Taylor, Phil

Acadia University

Master of Science

Masters

Biology

Biology

As organisms access resources, they interact with the composition and configuration of the landscape. Some landscape features facilitate movement, while others form barriers. Movement can be studied directly by following individual organisms, or indirectly, by examining the spatial structure of a population. This study uses both methods to examine the movement of a peatland dragonfly ('Leucorrhinia hudsonica') in western Newfoundland. First, I show that adult male and female 'L. hudsonica' have high rates of daily survival and movement between peatlands. I then compare different methods of estimating movement - multi-strata models, and an ad-hoc method. Simulated data shows that maximum likelihood estimates from multi-strata models are closer to the real amount of movement between patches. Estimating daily survival and movement in a modelling framework is therefore preferable because it provides less biased estimates of demographic rates. I also examine how landscape structure at multiple spatial scales influences patterns of incidence and abundance of 'L. hudsonica' larvae. Larvae are significantly more incident and abundant in peatlands separated by a 'scrub' than 'forest' matrix, even after accounting for smaller scale composition and configuration. The significance of matrix likely reflects a greater amount of movement through 'scrub ' than 'forest' habitats for adult dragonflies. However, a greater proportion of variation at smaller scales suggests that processes within pool environments are also important for odonate distribution. These two studies provide complementary information about how landscape structure influences the movement and population distribution of ' L. hudsonica', and identify other potentially important processes for this species. Similar information is lacking for most Odonates, despite rising interest in their conservation.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:2781