Abstract

A four part talk from early career researchers all thinking about how species fluctuate relative to populations of the same species across space (spatial synchrony) and to other members of the same community (community synchrony). Correlated fluctuations are generally thought to have negative consequences for overall system stability, making it important to understand synchrony of ecological systems. Generally, synchrony is a function of shared environmental responses, competition (in the case of community synchrony), and movement (in the case of spatial synchrony). The researchers presenting take a variety of approaches, leveraging a blend of existing data and theoretical simulation to provide insight into why species fluctuate and what these fluctuations mean for ecological systems.

Presenters

Amy Patterson (University of Wyoming), Qi Yang (Peking University), Megan Szojka (University of Wyoming), Lauren Holian (University of South Carolina)