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. |
From inside the book
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Page 3
... perhaps more surprising elaboration of this statement is that if a model did capture all of this – perhaps computers in the future could stomach it all? – the outcome would not be desirable at all. Why? The famed author J.A. Suarez ...
... perhaps more surprising elaboration of this statement is that if a model did capture all of this – perhaps computers in the future could stomach it all? – the outcome would not be desirable at all. Why? The famed author J.A. Suarez ...
Page 5
... perhaps, we find patients who have a genetic disorder that disrupts this process and makes them react to medicines in surprising ways. But even then, we should not go to the other extreme and start including every possible gene action ...
... perhaps, we find patients who have a genetic disorder that disrupts this process and makes them react to medicines in surprising ways. But even then, we should not go to the other extreme and start including every possible gene action ...
Page 6
... Perhaps some people's intuition tells them immediately that this is the case. But perhaps someone else disagrees and argues that some other process, perhaps some cyclic weather pattern, must interfere before cycles can occur. How could ...
... Perhaps some people's intuition tells them immediately that this is the case. But perhaps someone else disagrees and argues that some other process, perhaps some cyclic weather pattern, must interfere before cycles can occur. How could ...
Page 7
... perhaps by removing predators from an area, or seeing if cycles are more often seen where the assumptions of this model appear to be better met, or by some other clever methods that the author of this book is not an expert on. Once one ...
... perhaps by removing predators from an area, or seeing if cycles are more often seen where the assumptions of this model appear to be better met, or by some other clever methods that the author of this book is not an expert on. Once one ...
Page 9
... Perhaps an exact shape of the body condition distribution would have produced a totally different answer? The answer is...we don't really know, unless we build the more complicated model too. (Which means that modellers rarely run out ...
... Perhaps an exact shape of the body condition distribution would have produced a totally different answer? The answer is...we don't really know, unless we build the more complicated model too. (Which means that modellers rarely run out ...
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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...