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FangJi_PhD_dissertation_final.pdf (2.96 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

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Investigating Population Dynamics and Community Patterns in Ecology with Traditional Modeling and Machine Learning

Ji, Fang
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2063-1219
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1625751274676403

Abstract Details

2021, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Biology.
Ecology is a broad field that studies individual organisms, populations of those organisms, and communities of these populations. At the level of population, species interact with each other in a variety of ways. For example, when herbivores feed, plants may alter the quantity of edible biomass available to future feeders by allocating energy to different structures inaccessible to the feeding herbivores. The trade-offs between these different plant allocation strategies in turn can have a broad influence on the resulting population dynamics of plants and herbivores. Another example of species interaction is mutualism, which indicates two or more species gain benefits from their interactions. In the case of insects that pollinate flowers at the adult stage in their life cycle, but consume seeds at the juvenile stage, plants have various mechanisms to keep such exploitation by seed predators in check. At the level of community, the direct and indirect effects of abiotic heterogeneity on species play an important role in shaping spatial patterns. Herein, three studies are discussed regarding herbivory, mutualism, and community ecology. The first study involves investigating the trade-offs between two plant allocation strategies - overcompensation and allocation to inedible reserves - and their effects on herbivore population dynamics. The second involves examining the role of random flower-dropping punishment, a rare tactic for maintaining mutualistic interaction between plants and seed-consuming pollinators. The third involves using a new approach - Convolutional Neural Networks - to link unique signatures in community patterns to the mechanisms which generated them. Together, by adding biological complexity to the problem of connecting processes to pattern, these studies contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms that influence population dynamics and shape community patterns.
Karen Abbott (Advisor)
Ecology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ji, F. (2021). Investigating Population Dynamics and Community Patterns in Ecology with Traditional Modeling and Machine Learning [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1625751274676403

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ji, Fang. Investigating Population Dynamics and Community Patterns in Ecology with Traditional Modeling and Machine Learning . 2021. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1625751274676403.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ji, Fang. "Investigating Population Dynamics and Community Patterns in Ecology with Traditional Modeling and Machine Learning ." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1625751274676403

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1625751274676403
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© 2021, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.