Food Webs, Competition Graphs, and Habitat Formation

M. Cozzens

Mathematical Modelling of Natural Phenomena (2011)

  • Volume: 6, Issue: 6, page 22-38
  • ISSN: 0973-5348

Abstract

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One interesting example of a discrete mathematical model used in biology is a food web. The first biology courses in high school and in college present the fundamental nature of a food web, one that is understandable by students at all levels. But food webs as part of a larger system are often not addressed. This paper presents materials that can be used in undergraduate classes in biology (and mathematics) and provides students with the opportunity to explore mathematical models of predator-prey relationships, determine trophic levels, dominant species, stability of the ecosystem, competition graphs, interval graphs, and even confront problems that would appear to have logical answers that are as yet unsolved.

How to cite

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Cozzens, M.. "Food Webs, Competition Graphs, and Habitat Formation." Mathematical Modelling of Natural Phenomena 6.6 (2011): 22-38. <http://eudml.org/doc/222274>.

@article{Cozzens2011,
abstract = {One interesting example of a discrete mathematical model used in biology is a food web. The first biology courses in high school and in college present the fundamental nature of a food web, one that is understandable by students at all levels. But food webs as part of a larger system are often not addressed. This paper presents materials that can be used in undergraduate classes in biology (and mathematics) and provides students with the opportunity to explore mathematical models of predator-prey relationships, determine trophic levels, dominant species, stability of the ecosystem, competition graphs, interval graphs, and even confront problems that would appear to have logical answers that are as yet unsolved. },
author = {Cozzens, M.},
journal = {Mathematical Modelling of Natural Phenomena},
keywords = {food web; predators and prey; dominance; trophic level; trophic status; mathematical model; graph; directed graph; competition graph; interval graph; boxicity; prey-predator; directed graphs; interval graphs},
language = {eng},
month = {10},
number = {6},
pages = {22-38},
publisher = {EDP Sciences},
title = {Food Webs, Competition Graphs, and Habitat Formation},
url = {http://eudml.org/doc/222274},
volume = {6},
year = {2011},
}

TY - JOUR
AU - Cozzens, M.
TI - Food Webs, Competition Graphs, and Habitat Formation
JO - Mathematical Modelling of Natural Phenomena
DA - 2011/10//
PB - EDP Sciences
VL - 6
IS - 6
SP - 22
EP - 38
AB - One interesting example of a discrete mathematical model used in biology is a food web. The first biology courses in high school and in college present the fundamental nature of a food web, one that is understandable by students at all levels. But food webs as part of a larger system are often not addressed. This paper presents materials that can be used in undergraduate classes in biology (and mathematics) and provides students with the opportunity to explore mathematical models of predator-prey relationships, determine trophic levels, dominant species, stability of the ecosystem, competition graphs, interval graphs, and even confront problems that would appear to have logical answers that are as yet unsolved.
LA - eng
KW - food web; predators and prey; dominance; trophic level; trophic status; mathematical model; graph; directed graph; competition graph; interval graph; boxicity; prey-predator; directed graphs; interval graphs
UR - http://eudml.org/doc/222274
ER -

References

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  10. R. T. Paine. Food web complexity and species diversity. American Naturalist, 100 (1966), No. 910, 65-75.  
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