LIFE HISTORY, DEMOGRAPHY, AND RISK

Seasonal ponds are characterized by extreme variation within and among years. Our work with demographic models has been directed toward understanding life histories and demographies of animals using these ponds. With reliable demographic models for species of concern, we can evaluate potential risks and benefits of different management strategies for these ponds and their surrounding habitats.

Scientific importance

Determined that terrestrial stages (juveniles & adults) of pond-breeding salamanders are more sensitive to both chronic and catastrophic mortality than are aquatic stages (eggs & larvae)

Discovered that many aquatic animals in seasonal ponds may have conservative, one-generation life cycles because the time lag between initiating and entering dormancy is too long to risk multiple generations (V. L. Medland's Ph.D. dissertation)

Discovered that the optimal on-off allocation strategy from engineering control theory does not directly apply to a large class of life history problems, due to the discrete nature of reproduction in many animals and plants

Relevance to DOE

Contributes to defensible basis for managing Carolina bays and other wetland ponds

External funding

Theoretical Ecology Program, DOE Office of Health and Environmental Research

Visiting Research Fellowships to B. E. Taylor from the Max Planck Society

Global Change Research Program, Environmental Protection Agency