Simulation program Dispers
Dispers was developed to study and predict the effects of changes in the landscape. By studying the effects in Dispers on beforehand, long term and expensive tests in the field can be avoided. For the simulations, the model uses field data of a distinct organism and a map of the landscape. Originally, Dispers was calibrated with field data from carabid beetles. Results in Dispers were significantly in accordance with field data. Also field data for butterflies have been applied in Dispers. However, Dispers can be used for any organism that move in more or less random directions and react directly upon their environment and not reacting at distant attractors. Condition for a meaningful simulation is that the proper data for the species are entered into the program. Click here for more information.
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In Dispers, the user can draw a landscape or import a landscape from GIS files. At an area or a point in this landscape, a number of individuals is released. The individuals will disperse in the landscape in accordance with the settings defined by the user. During the simulation, individuals can encounter suitable or unsuitable habitats, barriers, etc. In certain areas individuals can reproduce, in other areas there is a high risk to die. Calculations can be made for numerous generations. At the end the program will show a map with the end positions of the individuals. Also parameters like the mean distance covered, where the individuals came from, the number of individuals per generation, etc. can be shown in a graph.
Dispers can be used to test the chance of survival in a landscape. Long term effects of landscape changes can be tested.
Examples:
- What is the effect of the increase or decrease of a nature reserve?
- What is the effect of a new highway through a nature reserve?
- What is the contribution of a corridor with certain dimensions (length/width), what dimensions should a corridor have in order to generate a connection between areas?
- For which kind of organism is a landscape configuration suitable?