Reconnecting place-based (Eulerian) and individual-based (Lagrangian) perspectives in animal movement ecology

Spatiotemporal Patterns of Population Density (SPPDs) and Individual Space-Use
Behaviors (ISUBs; movement and habitat selection) are intrinsically linked. On one hand, SPPDs
are important drivers of ISUBs (due to e.g., competition or facilitation). On the other hand,
SPPDs emerge from ISUBs, and reliably forecasting SPPDs hinges on our understanding ISUBs
and their effects on individual survival and reproduction. ISUBs are typically observed from a
Lagrangian perspective: tracking the spatial positions of the same individual through time. By
contrast, SPPDs are observed from an Eulerian perspective: focusing on the flow of individuals
through space. The Lagrangian perspective is hence individual-based whereas the Eulerian
perspective is place-based. In my talk, I will try to convince you (albeit with little evidence) that
there is much to be gained from reconnecting these two complementary perspectives.