Talk Title: Ecological networks in dynamics and Evolving landscapes
Network approaches in conservation planning and natural resource management have undergone rich developments since their first applications two decades ago. By combining network theory with concepts of landscape ecology, spatial networks have proven to be robust tools to quantify functional connectivity and assist in the design of conservation reserve networks. For example, the development of spatio-temporal networks to foresee future changes in habitat connectivity, the integration of functional trait ecology to design resilient forest landscapes, as well as the use of social-ecological networks to monitor ecosystem services. I will present a series of network approaches that can help design solutions to challenges raised by the uncertainty in future environmental conditions, shifts in species interactions, increased urbanization, and risks from natural disturbances.
About the Presenter:
Marie-Josée Fortin is a University Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. She holds a Canadian Research Chair in Spatial Ecology. She has devoted her career to the development of novel spatial statistics, quantitative methods, and spatially explicit simulation models in quantitative ecology to predict species dispersal in fragmented landscapes for the conservation of biodiversity.
