Elements Of Mathematical Ecology

Elements of Mathematical Ecology provides an introduction to classical and modern mathematical models, methods, and issues in population ecology. The first part of the book is devoted to simple, unstructured population models that, for he sake of tractability, ignore much of the variability found in natural populations. Topics covered include density dependence, bifurcations, demographic stochasticity, time delays, population interactions (predation, competition, and mutualism), and the application of optimal control theory to the management of renewable resources. The second part of his book is devoted to structured population models, covering spatially structured population models (with a focus on reaction-diffusion models), age-structured models, and two-sex models. Suitable for upper level students and beginning researchers in ecology, mathematical biology and applied mathematics, the volume includes numerous line diagrams that clarify the mathematics, relevant problems throughout the text that aid understanding, and supplementary mathematical and historical material that enrich the main text.