Disentangling processes that affect the occupancy-abundance relationship: a test at local and regional scales with moose

Dr. Avgar will be facilitating the start of my master’s project on spatial movement of moose. During my stay at Utah State, I will focus on the analytical application of mathematical models for moose movement patterns. Specifically, occupancy (probability of inhabiting a space) and abundance (number of individuals) are units of measurements affecting the spatial positioning of an animal. Dr. Avgar will oversee my research focusing on the key drivers of the occupancy-abundance relationship. Specifically, the co-occurrence of competitors and/or predators, anthropogenic effects, population density, and habitat availability can influence moose movement patterns. However, although occupancy and abundance influence one another, the drivers of occupancy do not have to be the same as the drivers of species abundance. The interdisciplinary application of mathematics to ecological processes provides a more comprehensive study of moose populations. Working with Dr. Avgar will provide me with a unique perspective for my thesis and a foundation of understanding of mathematical models that I will be apply to empirical data when I arrive in St. John’s the following Fall 2019 semester.

Faculty Supervisor:

Eric Vander Wal

Student:

Partner:

Utah State University

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Education

University:

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Program: