Cancelled: Combining the macro and the micro: bringing together the worlds of microecology and movement ecology

Combining the macro and the micro: bringing together the worlds of microecology and movement ecology

It has been shown that certain halophilic microorganisms (microorganisms whose habitat are areas of extreme high saline content) display unexpected spatial colonisation, which goes against the expected concept of biogeographic regionalisation.

This indicates that the organisms undergo long distance dispersal, however, the precise mechanism for this dispersal is unknown. Traditionally, methods to discern which regions are ‘most similar’ has relied on clustering techniques, we discuss why this approach is perhaps not the most appropriate when considering the mechanisms and vectors upon which these microorganisms rely upon to disperse. We conclude that techniques such as block modelling and node centrality (and others) may be more useful.

Dr Bailey will continue to discuss future directions (and funding) for this work, with one of the ultimate goals being to understand how these spatial locations are linked and therefore, predict the movement patterns of animals which visit these locations, spreading the microbes.

Speaker

Dr Joe Bailey is a Lecturer in the Mathematical Sciences.