| Unit name | Stochastic Modelling in Biology 34 |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MATHM0400 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Emeritus Professor. McNamara |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School of Mathematics |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
Behavioural ecology is a branch of biology which is concerned with the natural behaviour of organisms, the evolution of this behaviour and its ecological consequences. Activities which are important for reproduction and survival will be shaped by natural selection so that behaviour is approximately optimal given the animal's environment and constraints. It is thus possible to explain much behaviour in terms of maximisation of fitness. This course will introduce the basic biological ideas from this field, develop appropriate modelling techniques, and use them to analyze simple problems. Topics considered will include sequential search and foraging strategies, reproductive decisions and life histories, fluctuating environments and games between animals. Although the course will be mathematical, using fairly simple results from probability, stochastic processes, optimal control, matrix algebra and game theory, the emphasis will be on practical approaches rather than mathematical proofs.
