The textbook is designed to provide a "non-intimidating" entry to the field of mathematical biology. It is also useful for those wishing to teach an introductory course. Although there are many good mathematical biology texts available, most books are too advanced mathematically for most biology majors. Unlike undergraduate math majors, most biology major students possess a limited math background. Given that computational biology is a rapidly expanding field, more students should be encouraged to familiarize themselves with this powerful approach to understand complex biological phenomena. Ultimately, our goal with this undergraduate textbook is to provide an introduction to the interdisciplinary field of mathematical biology in a way that does not overly terrify an undergraduate biology major, thereby fostering a greater appreciation for the role of mathematics in biology
3.2 Enhancements to the Discrete Logistic Function
3.3 Summary
3.4 Exercises
3.5 References
4 Fixed Points, Stability, and Cobwebbing
4.1 Fixed Points and Cobwebbing
4.2 Linear Stability Analysis
4.3 Summary
4.4 Exercises
4.5 References
5 Population Genetics Models
5.1 Two Phenotypes Case
5.2 Three Phenotypes Case
5.3 Summary
5.4 Exercises
5.5 References
6 Chaotic Systems
6.1 Robert May’s Model
6.2 Solving the Model
6.3 Model Fixed Points
6.4 Summary
6.5 Exercises
6.6 References
7 Continuous Time Models
7.1 The Continuous Logistic Equation
7.2 Equilibrium States and their Stability
7.3 Continuous Logistic Equation with Harvesting
7.4 Summary
7.5 Exercises
7.6 References
8 Organism-Organism Interaction Models
8.1 Interaction Models Introduction
8.2 Competition
8.3 Predator-Prey
8.4 Mutualism
8.5 Summary
8.6 Exercises
8.7 References
9 Host-Parasitoid Models
9.1 Beddington Model
9.2 Some Solutions of the Beddington Model
9.3 MATLAB Solution for the Host-Parasitoid Model
9.4 Python Solution for the Host-Parasitoid Model
9.5 Summary
9.6 Exercises
9.7 References
10 Competition Models with Logistic Term
10.1 Addition of Logistic Term to Competition Models
10.2 Predator-Prey-Prey Three Species Model
10.3 Predator-Prey-Prey Model Solutions
10.4 Summary.
10.5 Exercises
10.6 References
11 Infectious Disease Models
11.1 Basic Compartment Modeling Approaches
11.2 SI Model
11.3 SI model with Growth in S
11.4 Applications using Mathematica
11.5 Applications using MATLAB
11.6 Summary.
11.7 Exercises
11.8 References
12 Organism Environment Interactions
12.1 Introduction to Energy Budgets
12.2 Radiation
12.3 Convection
12.4 Transpiration
12.5 Total Energy Budget
12.6 Solving the Budget: Newton’s Method for Root Finding
12.7 Experimenting with the Leaf Energy Budget
12.8 Summary
12.9 Exercises
12.10 References
13 Appendix 1: Brief Review of Differential Equations in Calculus
14 Appendix 2: Numerical Solutions of ODEs
15 Appendix 3: Tutorial on Mathematica
16 Appendix 4: Tutorial on MATLAB
17 Appendix 5: Tutorial on Python Programming
Index
David G Costa is a mathematician interested in Partial Differential Equations (PDEs), Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) and the Calculus of Variations. In particular, he is interested in the use of so-called variational and topological techniques to study qualitatively and visualization of phenomena in PDEs and ODEs. Such phenomena are present in various areas of sciences, including physics, biology, and chemistry, among others. He teaches a variety of courses at the undergraduate level (including Calculus, Linear Algebra, ODEs, PDEs, and Introductory Real Analysis), and graduate level (including PDEs, and Real Analysis), as well as a course in Biomathematics jointly offered by the Department of Mathematical Sciences and School of Life Sciences.
Paul J Schulte is a plant physiologist interested in biophysical approaches to studying internal processes in plants. These commonly involve applications of mathematical approaches as realized through computational solutions. Plants are dependent on water for survival and their ability to acquire water from the soil and transport it throughout the plant is determined in part by the hydraulic properties of the plant's tissues. Most of his work considers transport processes such as water flow in the xylem tissues or sugar flow in the phloem tissues. He teaches a variety of courses such as Plant Physiology, Plant Anatomy, Introduction to Biological Modeling, and Biomathematics jointly offered in the School of Life Sciences and Department of Mathematical Sciences.
The textbook is designed to provide a "non-intimidating" entry to the field of mathematical biology. It is also useful for those wishing to teach an introductory course. Although there are many good mathematical biology texts available, most books are too advanced mathematically for most biology majors. Unlike undergraduate math majors, most biology major students possess a limited math background. Given that computational biology is a rapidly expanding field, more students should be encouraged to familiarize themselves with this powerful approach to understand complex biological phenomena. Ultimately, our goal with this undergraduate textbook is to provide an introduction to the interdisciplinary field of mathematical biology in a way that does not overly terrify an undergraduate biology major, thereby fostering a greater appreciation for the role of mathematics in biology