Frontiers in Mathematical Biology

Assessing the effects of institutional and landscape arrangements in analytical and computational models of conservation

Kehinde Salau

Arizona State University

This proposed study aims to bolster knowledge about the corridor management of threatened and endangered (T & E) terrestrial species through the use of theoretic models detailing management structure and interacting metapopulation dynamics. The rate of habitat fragmentation has increased in more recent times and has led to further decline in biodiversity and the welfare of natural wildlife. Corridor management has been identified as a promising control option in mitigating the adverse effects of fragmentation on species and their habitat. However, landscape managers must be clear when setting conservation goals in order to accurately assess the bioeconomic tradeoffs implicit in reaching stated objectives. This research serves to contribute to the knowledge pool through a multifaceted modeling process. I will address the issue of enhancing management structure and criteria through two, progressive applied projects. The first project looks at the role of management structure in the development of recovery criteria under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The second project utilizes an agent-based model (ABM) to study the designation and construction of desirable ecological networks for a fragmented population of predator and prey. The design process will also include a cost-benefit assessment of alternative, desired network structures in terms of minimal-control construction and robust functionality.