11:216:431 Fundamentals of Ecological and Evolutionary Modeling (4 cr)
Syllabus 11:216:431 (281k PDF)
Instructor: Dr. Juan Bonachela
Pre-Requisite(s): 11:216:369 and 01:640:135
Two 80-min. lecs.
This course will focus on how to apply simple mathematical language and techniques to gain a deeper understanding of biological systems. We will use basic calculus to study the ecological and evolutionary changes of populations, learn how to represent and interpret such changes, and predict their short- and long-term behavior. We will discuss classic examples covering a wide range of terrestrial and marine systems, from microbial growth to predator-prey and host-parasite interactions, vegetation patterns, and biogeochemical cycles.