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people · publications · collaborators · site map · contact · news · linksDr Stephen Hartley
- Position: Senior Lecturer in Ecology & Conservation
- Email: Stephen.Hartley@vuw.ac.nz
- Phone: 04 463-5447
- Fax: 04 463-5331
- Room: New Kirk 620
- School of Biological Sciences
Victoria University of Wellington
P.O. Box 600
Wellington, New Zealand.
Research Interests
I am interested in population dynamics and community ecology, especially in a spatial context. My research encompasses topics in conservation biology, invasive species, models of species coexistence, metapopulations, biogeography, genetic population structure and landscape ecology. Current projects include the spread of Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) in New Zealand. How far and how quickly will they spread? How will they interact with other ants and invertebrates? What will be the the ecological and economic consequences? I am also investigating animal foraging behaviour in response to different distributions and densities of patchy resources. Previous work has focussed on multi-scale descriptions of range structure of rare plants, with a view to understanding the ecological drivers and conservation consequences of different distribution patterns.
Current Research Projects
The spread of Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) in New Zealand.
How far and how quickly will they spread (climate envelope modelling)? How will they interact with other ants and invertebrates? What will be the ecological and economic consequences?
Spatial scale and the paradox of the resource concentration hypothesis.
Otherwise known as: animal foraging behaviour in response to different distributions and densities of patchy resources. As a model field system we are manipulating the distribution of cabbage plants (=resource patches) and measuring the colonisation response of their two main insect herbivores, and their parasitoids. Simulation modelling could extend this to the landscape-level (metapopulation scale) and could include other species. This project is currently funded by the Royal Society of New Zealand.
Range structure and different forms of rarity.
Why do some species possess very scattered and fragmented ranges, while others are tightly clustered into a small area? How does this relate to local density? What are the life-history and ecological correlates of these distribution patterns, and what are the implications for assessing the conservation status and management requirements of species with very different range structures? In collaboration with Bill Kunin (University of Leeds, UK) we have examined these questions for rare and scarce British plants and we would like to know if the observed trends can be generalised to other regions and taxa.
Current Student Projects
PhD
Marc Hasenbank: Spatial scale and the resource concentration hypothesis
Rudi Schnitzler: Effects of forest fragmentation on parasitoid community structure
MSc
Jim Barritt: Spatially explicit modelling of animal foraging behaviour for patchy resources
PostGrad Dip.Sci.
Helga Kuechly: Mapping and monitoring coastal dune vegetation in the Wellington region
Potential Student Projects
Anything that overlaps with the above interests and projects. Please feel free to discuss ideas with me.
One project waiting for action is to examine spider and beetle assemblages on coastal sand dunes, and their change in response to the invasion of Argentine ants. We have some "before" data and the "after" data is waiting to be collected and compared.
Recent Publications see publications page
Content Last Modified: Monday, 20th June 2005.
