Stephen Davies, associate professor of computer science, Alan Griffith, professor of biological science and Michael Crawford from the class of 2014, published their  modeling research article, titled “Predicting metapopulation responses of a tidal wetland annual to environmental stochasticity and water dispersal through an individual-based model.”

The article currently appears in the journal “Ecological Modelling” online and will appear in print in November. The article can be viewed here: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304380015003828

Davies, Griffith and Crawford’s interdisciplinary project involved constructing a computer replica of the rare plant Sensitive Joint-Vetch in its native habitat – Virginia coastal wetlands. This detailed model was then simulated to make predictions about the plant’s population dynamics in response to various environmental factors.