New Features in RAMAS GIS version 5
Note: If you are still using version 3 (1998),
also see New Features in RAMAS GIS 4.0
New Sample Files
Dozens of additional sample files are added, so the program now includes sample files for about 60 species. Many of these also include habitat maps (for determining the spatial structure of the metapopulation) or time series of habitat maps (for incorporating dynamic spatial structure).New parameter: Exclude the initial X time steps from risk calculations
This option (in the Stochasticity dialog box under the Model menu) makes the program calculate the following risk results only for time steps X+1 through the end of the simulation:- Risk of low harvest
- Interval extinction risk
- Interval explosion risk
- Interval percent decline
- Expected minimum abundance
New Result: Average Stage Abundances
This result window shows the change in average abundance of each stage of each population through time. It outputs the average number of individuals (over all replications) in each stage of each population. The population and stage for which you want to view the average stage abundances is specified in a population counter on the tool bar and a stage picklist below it. This result is available only for the first 100 populations.
New parameter: Relative dispersal (population-specific)
This parameter (in Populations dialog box under the Model menu) is used to modify the dispersal rates by multiplying it with the rates from the dispersal matrix, and the stage-specific relative rates from the Stages dialog. You can enter either constants or filenames for these parameters. A constant number multiplies all dispersal rates (for all stages and all time steps). Because the dispersal matrix already gives rates that are specific between any pair of populations, this relative dispersal parameter is mostly used to model deterministic trends (non-random or systematic changes in time), by specifying filenames instead of constant values. The filenames should refer to files that contain time series of these parameters. If you specify a filename, you can also specify a different time series for each stage.Allee Effects on Vital Rates
Based on user requests, the operation of Allee effects is changed so that it modifies only selected vital rates, as specified in the "Density dependence affects" parameter (in the Density dependence dialog). For example, if "Density dependence affects fecundities", then only fecundities are multiplied by N/(A+N), where N is the basis for density dependence (i.e., total population size, abundance of selected stages, etc.) at the current time step for this population, and A is the Allee parameter for this population.Larger maps allowed
RAMAS GIS now allows maps with up to 16000 rows or columns. However, the maximum that can be used depends on the system, and the program now checks (and, if necessary, warns the user about) potential memory limitations. New help topics discuss options when map sizes or number of patches are too large (e.g., methods of reducing map resolution for different types of maps).Return to RAMAS GIS
