Modelling for Field Biologists and Other Interesting PeopleStudents of evolutionary and behavioural ecology are often unfamiliar with mathematical techniques, though much of biology relies on mathematics. Evolutionary ideas are often complex, meaning that the logic of hypotheses proposed should not only be tested empirically but also mathematically. There are numerous different modelling tools used by ecologists, ranging from population genetic 'bookkeeping', to game theory and individual-based computer simulations. Due to the many different modelling options available, it is often difficult to know where to start. Hanna Kokko has designed this 2007 book to help with these decisions. Each method described is illustrated with one or two biologically interesting examples that have been chosen to help overcome fears of many biologists when faced with mathematical work, whilst also providing the programming code (Matlab) for each problem. Aimed primarily at students of evolutionary and behavioural ecology, this book will be of interest to any biologist interested in mathematical modelling. |
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Page 10
... happens, take an exact numerical value from experiments and build this into our model. Such models are predictive and may be precise (if we are lucky), but they do not try to aid our conceptual understanding of evolutionary processes ...
... happens, take an exact numerical value from experiments and build this into our model. Such models are predictive and may be precise (if we are lucky), but they do not try to aid our conceptual understanding of evolutionary processes ...
Page 11
... happen.' For example, when introducing spatial structure, altruism can spread in local subpopulations; or, an emergent property does exist that is interesting in its own right. They are useless when trying to show that 'X cannot happen ...
... happen.' For example, when introducing spatial structure, altruism can spread in local subpopulations; or, an emergent property does exist that is interesting in its own right. They are useless when trying to show that 'X cannot happen ...
Page 17
... happens when these interact. Trying to adhere to rules that allow everyone to communicate to each other more fluently is recommendable – but at the same time, do remember that there are no rigid rules except that notation should be ...
... happens when these interact. Trying to adhere to rules that allow everyone to communicate to each other more fluently is recommendable – but at the same time, do remember that there are no rigid rules except that notation should be ...
Page 18
... happens next, so we give them labels – for example, pa·a, pA· a , pa· A and pA· A . The letter p here stands for 'probability'. Hang on! In the above, we were assuming haploid genetics, which means that females and males have either ...
... happens next, so we give them labels – for example, pa·a, pA· a , pa· A and pA· A . The letter p here stands for 'probability'. Hang on! In the above, we were assuming haploid genetics, which means that females and males have either ...
Page 19
... happens with selection under haploidy, there is no other way to proceed than to look at the difference and repeat all the modelling for a diploid organism as well. This requires more work than the modelling done here: firstly because ...
... happens with selection under haploidy, there is no other way to proceed than to look at the difference and repeat all the modelling for a diploid organism as well. This requires more work than the modelling done here: firstly because ...
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allele answer approach argument assume assumptions average become behaviour better birds breeding calculate called choice choose condition consider costs course create denote depends derivative detail develop distribution dynamic effect equals equation equilibrium evolution evolutionary exactly example expected expression fact females find first fitness foraging frequency function future gain gene genetic give given grow growth happens height higher important increase individuals interested leads less look male mathematical mating Matlab means migration nature Note offspring once optimal options parameter particular patch perhaps phenotypic plant plot population positive possible predators predict present probability problem produce proportion question reason reproductive requires resident response result rules selection simple simulations solutions strategy success territories things trait values zero
Popular passages
Page 16 - In that Empire, the craft of Cartography attained such Perfection that the Map of a Single province covered the space of an entire City, and the Map of the Empire itself an entire Province. In the course of Time, these Extensive maps were found...
Page 16 - Cartographers evolved a Map of the Empire that was of the same Scale as the Empire and that coincided with it point for point. Less attentive to the Study of Cartography, succeeding Generations came to judge a map of such magnitude cumbersome, and, not without Irreverence, they abandoned it to the Rigours of Sun and Rain. In the western Deserts, tattered Fragments of the Map are still to be found...
Page 8 - A(2:3,1:2) %from 2nd row to 3rd row, from 1st column to 2nd column ans =4 5 7 8 »A(2,:) %2nd row, all columns ans =4 5 6 The colon ( : ) is used for defining an arithmetic (equal difference) sequence without the...