DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/X94B-FB78
Defense Date
2014
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Mathematical Sciences
First Advisor
David M. Chan
Abstract
From the agent-based, correlated random walk model presented, we observe the effects of varying the parameter values of maximum insect turning area, ��max, density of trees, ω, maximum pollen carryover, ��max, and probability of fertilization, P��, on the distribution of pollen within a population of Cornus florida (flowering dogwood). We see that varying ��max and ��max changes the dispersal distance of pollen, which greatly affects many measures of connectivity. The clustering coefficient of fathers is maximized when ��max is between 60° and 90°. Varying ω does not have a major effect on the clustering coefficient of fathers, but it does have a greater effect on other measures of genetic diversity. Lastly, we compare our simulations with randomly-placed trees with that of actual tree placement of C. florida at the VCU Rice Center, concluding that in order to truly understand how pollen is distributed within a specific ecosystem, specificity in describing tree locations is necessary.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
12-11-2014