Syllabus
| Date | Lecture topic | Lab | Readings |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Week 1
9/4 |
Introduction: what is theoretical ecology? | - | Grainger et al., 2021 |
|
Week 2
9/11 |
Exponential population growth | Solving exponential growth equation using “deSolve” & Visualization | Gotelli [Ch.1], Case[Ch.1] |
|
Week 3
9/18 |
Logistic population growth and stability analysis | Simulating logistic growth | - |
|
Week 4
9/25 |
Discrete population growth and stability analysis | Logistic map and Ricker diagram | Gotelli [Ch.2], Case[Ch.5], Otto & Day[Ch.5], May., 1976 |
|
Week 5
10/2 |
Metapopulations and patch occupancy models | Metapopulations and patch occupancy models | Gotelli [Ch.4], Case[Ch.16] |
|
Week 6
10/9 |
Harvesting and bifurcation | Bifurcation diagram | Pastor [Ch. 7], Strogatz [Ch. 3] |
|
Week 7
10/16 |
Age-structured population models | Age-structured population model | Gotelli [Ch.3], Case[Ch.3] |
|
Week 8
10/23 |
Lotka-Volterra model of competition: graphical analysis | Simulating competitive dynamics and invasion growth | Gotelli [Ch.5], Case[Ch.14], Broekman et al., 2019 |
|
Week 9
10/30 |
Midterm exam | - | - |
|
Week 10
11/6 |
Lotka-Volterra model of competition: invasion analysis and linear stability analysis | Visualization of dynamics with complex eigenvalues | Otto & Day [Ch.8], May., 1972 |
|
Week 11
11/13 |
Predator-prey interactions (I) | Lotka-Volterra model of predator-prey interactions and time-scale separation | Gotelli [Ch.6], Case[Ch.12, 13] |
|
Week 12
11/20 |
Predator-prey interactions (II) | Rosenzweig-MacArthur predator-prey model | Gotelli [Ch.6], Case[Ch.12, 13] |
|
Week 13
11/27 |
Multispecies models of predation: apparent competition | Consumer-resource dynamics | Tilman., 1980, Armstrong & McGehee., 1980 |
|
Week 14
12/4 |
Mechanistic models for consumer-resource dynamics | Parameter space for apparent competition model | Holt., 1977 |
|
Week 15
12/11 |
Research applcations: plant-soil feedback as an example | - | - |
|
Week 16
12/18 |
Final exam | - | - |