Effects of patch-matrix composition and individual movement response on population persistence at the patch level (Q2008253)

In this paper, the authors formalized a novel framework to facilitate the connection between small-scale movement and patch-level predictions of persistence through a mechanistic model based on reaction-diffusion equations. The model can incorporate essential information about edge-mediated effects such as patch preference, movement behavior, and matrix-induced mortality. The authors mathematically analyzed the model's predictions of persistence with a general logistic-type growth term and explore their sensitivity to demographic attributes in both the patch and matrix and patch size and geometry. The authors also determined the critical patch size. They also illustrated the utility of this framework with a well-studied planthopper species (\textit{Prokelisia crocea}) living in a highly fragmented landscape. Using experimentally derived data from various sources to parameterize the model, the authors showed that the model results are in accord with experimental predictions regarding the minimum patch size of \textit{P. crocea}. Through the application of a sensitivity analysis to the model, the authors also suggested a ranking of the most important model parameters based on which parameter will cause the largest output variance. The model is novel and the results obtained in this paper can provide new insight into the study of the effects of habitat fragmentation on the abundance of the species.