Ecological dynamics

The course focuses on mathematical modelling as a tool for the study of ecological dynamics, i.e., the interplay between organisms and their environment. You will learn how biological and environmental information can be translated into meaningful mathematical models, how the behavior of mathematical models can be explored, analysed and interpreted, and how models can be used to derive expectations and hypotheses about the real world. The teaching methodology is problem-oriented, research-based and learner-centered. Course participants develop published models with the help of a common software, under the guidance of course instructors. The concepts, techniques and practical tasks are all discussed in working groups during seminars.  The course includes the following parts:  Section 1, Methods, principles and concepts in ecological dynamics; 7.5 ECTS This part gives a solid background in population and community theory from a process oriented, dynamic perspective. The focus is on how interactions between organisms drive the dynamics of ecological systems through feedbacks among various processes - often with unexpected results. The focus of this section is on the dynamics of interspecific interactions such as predation and competition and on how these interactions influence the coexistence of species, the size and stability of populations, as well as the flows of energy and matter through ecosystems. This section gives a thorough introduction to how models are constructed and analysed. This includes exercises in how biological assumptions translate into mathematical models and how the models are subsequently programmed and numerically analysed in Matlab. Matlab is a modelling software with widespread use in both research and the non-academic sector. Section 2, Research project; 7.5 ECTS In this part, the students develop their own research project, starting from a published scientific article that models a natural system in order to address questions of practical and theoretical importance. This work is of research-like character, because it aims to expand on the published model. In a first step, the main questions of the article must be described and the published model will be coded up in the modelling software in order to reproduce the results. In addition, the project includes the formulation of one or more new questions, literature search, model formulation and analysis, critical evaluation of results, and the writing of a formal essay. The work is also presented orally.