The Physics of Foraging
An Introduction to Random Searches and Biological Encounters

Introducing random searches and foraging for physicists and ecologists.

Gandhimohan. M. Viswanathan (Author), Marcos G. E. da Luz (Author), Ernesto P. Raposo (Author), H. Eugene Stanley (Author)

9781107006799, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 2 June 2011

178 pages, 44 b/w illus.
25.5 x 18 x 1.5 cm, 0.51 kg

'This small volume has plenty of examples to maintain readability yet is balanced with solid background theory. It would be an asset to ecologists who are less familiar with statistical physics methods seeking to explain or predict animal movements.' The Biologist

Do the movements of animals, including humans, follow patterns that can be described quantitatively by simple laws of motion? If so, then why? These questions have attracted the attention of scientists in many disciplines, and stimulated debates ranging from ecological matters to queries such as 'how can there be free will if one follows a law of motion?' This is the first book on this rapidly evolving subject, introducing random searches and foraging in a way that can be understood by readers without a previous background on the subject. It reviews theory as well as experiment, addresses open problems and perspectives, and discusses applications ranging from the colonization of Madagascar by Austronesians to the diffusion of genetically modified crops. The book will interest physicists working in the field of anomalous diffusion and movement ecology as well as ecologists already familiar with the concepts and methods of statistical physics.

Part I. Introduction: Movement: 1. Empirical motivation for studying movement
2. Statistical physics of biological motion
3. Random walks and Lévy flights
4. Wandering albatrosses
Part II. Experimental Findings: 5. Early studies
6. Evidence of anomalous diffusion
7. Human dispersal
8. How strong is the evidence?
Part III. Theory of Foraging: 9. Optimizing encounter rates
10. Lévy flight foraging
11. Other search models
Part IV. Finale: A Broader Context: 12. Superdiffusive random searches
13. Adaptational versus emergent superdiffusion
14. Perspectives and open problems
Appendices
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Biology, life sciences [PS], Statistical physics [PHS], Physics [PH], Mathematics & science [P]