The Theoretical Biologist's Toolbox
Quantitative Methods for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

This textbook provides a no-nonsense introduction to the principles of theoretical and mathematical biology.

Marc Mangel (Author)

9780521537483, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 27 July 2006

390 pages, 86 b/w illus.
24.7 x 17.4 x 1.8 cm, 0.78 kg

'… very entertaining … a real desire to encourage enthusiastic participation, and a general sense of excitement about the use of theory in biology, helped along by the many references to classic studies in ecology and evolutionary biology.' Evolution

Mathematical modelling is widely used in ecology and evolutionary biology and it is a topic that many biologists find difficult to grasp. In this new textbook Marc Mangel provides a no-nonsense introduction to the skills needed to understand the principles of theoretical and mathematical biology. Fundamental theories and applications are introduced using numerous examples from current biological research, complete with illustrations to highlight key points. Exercises are also included throughout the text to show how theory can be applied and to test knowledge gained so far. Suitable for advanced undergraduate courses in theoretical and mathematical biology, this book forms an essential resource for anyone wanting to gain an understanding of theoretical ecology and evolution.

Preface
1. Four examples and a metaphor
2. Topics from ordinary and partial differential equations
3. Probability and some statistics
4. The evolutionary ecology of parasitoids
5. The population biology of disease
6. An introduction to some of the problems of sustainable fisheries
7. The basics of stochastic population dynamics
8. Applications of stochastic population dynamics to ecology, evolution and biodemography.

Subject Areas: Biology, life sciences [PS], Maths for scientists [PDE], Mathematical modelling [PBWH]