Learning about colonization when managing metapopulations under an adaptive management framework

Abstract

Adaptive management is a framework for resolving key uncertainties while managing complex ecological systems. Its use has been prominent in fi sheries research and wildlife harvesting; however, its application to other areas of environmental management remains somewhat limited. Indeed, adaptive management has not been used to guide and inform metapopulation restoration, despite considerable uncertainty surrounding such actions. In this study, we determined how best to learn about the colonization rate when managing metapopulations under an adaptive management framework. We developed a mainland-island metapopulation model based on the threatened bay checkerspot butterfl y (Euphydryas editha b..