Small Mammal Dispersion (UMAP)

This module introdcues students to the social fence hypothesis explaining small mammal migration between adjacent land areas. Students are shown how the hypothesis is formulated in the population ecology literature as a pair of autonomous differential equations, and then they are directed toward a modified version of the standard formulation leading to increased realism. The modified version is solved qualitatively with phase diagrams for a range of ecological circumstances. Students also gain experience working with the numerical phase-plane plotter Dynasys, which can be downloaded from the World Wide Web. The social fence hypothesis is presented within the real-world context of controlling beaver-related damage in a given area by trapping.

Table of Contents:

INTRODUCTION

MATHEMATICAL FORMULATION OF THE SOCIAL FENCE HYPOTHESIS

THE SOCIAL FENCE FORMULATION WITH TRAPPING

DIMENSIONS RATE EQUATIONS

ZERO-TRAPPING DYNAMICS

POSITIVE TRAPPING DYNAMICS

DISCUSSION

SOLUTIONS TO THE EXERCISES

REFERENCES

ABOUT THE AUTHORS