Edge permeability and population persistence in isolated habitat patches

Abstract

Population persistence in isolated habitat fragments is investigated using integrodifference equations. The propensity of individual dispersers encountering the boundary of the patch to emigrate is defined by edge permeability. A dispersal model incorporating movement, settlement and edge permeability defines dispersal success as a function of a disperser's starting location. This dispersal model is used to generate dispersal kernels for integrodifference equation models, analysis of which gives a condition for population persistence in terms of edge permeability, patch size and average dispersal distance. An approximation reduces the spatial problem to a simple nonspatial model that can be easily analyzed. © 1999 Rocky Mountain Mathematics Consortium.