Designing and assessing the viability of nature reserve systems at regional scales: Integration of optimization, heuristic and dynamic models - Year 2

• Sandy J. Andelman

Abstract
With this proposal we seek a second year of support (beginning in July, 1998) to continue and expand the activities of our NCEAS working group (for a description of the project and summary of results see http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/projects/2002). Our research aims to enhance the theoretical framework for biodiversity conservation planning, and to develop a novel computer-based approach to the design of nature reserve networks that integrates traditional optimization and heuristic models for reserve siting (based on a representation paradigm that emphasizes spatial patterns of species distribution) (e.g., Kirkpatrick 1983; Margules et. al. 1988; Vane-Wrightet. al. 1991; Church et. al. 1996; Davis et. al. 1996; Pressey et. al. 1996) , with dynamic modeling approaches that emphasize population persistence in both space and time (e.g., Lande and Orzack 1988; Tuljapurkar 1989; Dennis et. al. 1991; Fleming et. al.1994; Lindenmayer et. al. 1995; Possingham & Davies 1995; Pulliam & Dunning 1995).Our pilot study during year one has involved the organization and synthesis of several large biodiversity and land use data sets for the Columbia Plateau ecoregion. Our original NCEAS proposal requested funds for an initial period of twelve months, with possibility of a second year of support to extend and expand our analyses and syntheses, contingent on the success and promise of our accomplishments during the first year. This proposal summarizes progress to date, and outlines the research we propose for a second year of NCEAS support (July, 1998 ¿ June, 1999).