Math 341: Mathematical Modeling

modeling

Index

Syllabus is here.

Problem Set 1 (Due Tuesday, September 4):

Install R and RStudio on your computer. To do this, work through this brief setup tutorial.
Using the steps of the modeling process as a guide, describe your model and analysis of the optimal diet problem we did on the first day of class.
Complete the optimal residence time and optimal egg size problems handed out in class.

Problem Set 2 (Due Thursday, September 13):

Complete exercises 1-11 on the Structured Population Growth worksheet. You don’t have to submit these–just write a sentence indicating your progress on these.
Read all of Ellner Chapter 2 (handout). In a well-written paragraph or two, summarize the chapter. Every word of your summary should be meaningful. Please do not simply sling out words, waiting until a paragraph’s worth of them have accumulated. Your summary should emphasize the modeling aspects of the material rather than, say, the specific details of whatever scientific study is being used to illustrate these concepts.
Complete the following problems from Ellner: 2.8, 2.9, 2.12-2.19.

Problem Set 4 (Due Tuesday, October 23): Predation worksheet.

Problem Set 5 (Due Tuesday, November 20): Optimal control problems.

The following schedule is tentative and will be updated periodically.

	Date	Topics	Text
	8-28	Introduction to Modeling
	8-30	Introduction to RStudio
Single Species	9-4	Density Independent Growth	Gotelli ch1
	9-6	Density Independent Demography	Gotelli ch3
	9-11	Density Dependent Growth 1	Gotelli ch2
	9-13	Density Dependent Growth 2	Gotelli ch2
	9-20	Subpopulations
	9-25	Metapopulations	Gotelli ch4
Two Species	9-27	Competition	Gotelli ch5
	10-2	Predation	Gotelli ch6
	10-4	Parasitism
	10-9	Mutualism
	10-11
	10-16	Midterm
	10-18	October Break
Communities	10-23	Island Biogeography	Gotelli ch7
	10-25	Succession	Gotelli ch8
	10-30	Food Webs
Ecosystems	10-30
	11-1
	11-6
	11-8
	11-13
	11-15
	11-20
	11-22	Thanksgiving Break
	11-27
	11-29
	12-4
	12-6
	12-11	Final Exam