Modeling Dynamic Biological Systems (Modeling Dynamic Systems)

Many biologists and ecologists have developed models that find widespread use in theoretical investigations and in applications to organism behavior, disease control, population and metapopulation theory, ecosystem dynamics, and environmental management. This book captures and extends the process of model development by concentrating on the dynamic aspects of these processes and by providing the tools such that virtually anyone with basic knowledge in the Life Sciences can develop meaningful dynamic models. Examples of the systems modeled in the book range from models of cell development, the beating heart, the growth and spread of insects, spatial competition and extinction, to the spread and control of epidemics, including the conditions for the development of chaos. Key features: - easy-to-learn and easy-to-use software - examples from many subdisciplines of biology, covering models of cells, organisms, populations, and metapopulations - no prior computer or programming experience required Key benefits: - learn how to develop modeling skills and system thinking on your own rather than use models developed by others - be able to easily run models under alternative assumptions and investigate the implications of these assumptions for the dynamics of the biological system being modeled - develop skills to assess the dynamics of biological systems Front Matter....Pages i-xvi Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Modeling Dynamic Biological Systems....Pages 3-28 Exploring Dynamic Biological Systems....Pages 29-40 Risky Population....Pages 41-46 Steady State, Oscillation, and Chaos in Population Dynamics....Pages 47-57 Spatial Dynamics....Pages 59-62 Front Matter....Pages 63-63 Law of Mass Action....Pages 65-68 Catalyzed Product....Pages 69-73 Two-Stage Nutrient Uptake....Pages 75-79 Iodine Compartment....Pages 81-84 The Brusselator....Pages 85-89 Signal Transmission....Pages 91-95 Front Matter....Pages 97-97 Mating and Mutation of Alleles....Pages 99-103 Artificial Worms....Pages 105-118 Langur Infanticide and Long-Term Matriline Fitness....Pages 119-129 Front Matter....Pages 131-131 Odor Sensing....Pages 133-135 Stochastic Resonance....Pages 137-139 Heart Beat....Pages 141-146 Bat Thermo-Regulation....Pages 147-150 The Optimum Plant....Pages 151-155 Soybean Plant Growth....Pages 157-165 Front Matter....Pages 131-131 Infectious Diseases....Pages 167-180 Front Matter....Pages 181-181 Adaptive Population Control....Pages 183-190 Roan Herds....Pages 191-195 Population Dynamics of Voles....Pages 197-205 Lemming Population Dynamics....Pages 207-209 Multi-Stage Insect Models....Pages 211-221 Two Age-Class Parasites....Pages 223-227 Monkey Travels....Pages 229-239 Biosynchronicity....Pages 241-245 Front Matter....Pages 247-247 Plant–Microbe Interaction....Pages 249-257 Wildebeest....Pages 259-266 Nicholson–Bailey Host–Parasite Interaction....Pages 267-272 Diseased and Healthy Immigrating Insects....Pages 273-281 Two-Species Colonization Model....Pages 283-304 Herbivore-Algae Predator–Prey Dynamics....Pages 305-310 The Grass Carp....Pages 311-325 Recruitment and Trophic Dynamics of Gizzard Shad....Pages 327-347 Salamander Dispersal....Pages 349-356 Quail Movement....Pages 357-366 Modeling Spatial Dynamics of Predator–Prey Interactions in a Changing Environment....Pages 367-374 Front Matter....Pages 375-375 Catastrophe....Pages 377-380 Spruce Budworm Dynamics....Pages 381-389 Game of Life....Pages 391-410 Daisyworld....Pages 411-423 Front Matter....Pages 425-425 Building a Modeling Community....Pages 427-428 Back Matter....Pages 429-434 Many biologists and ecologists have developed models that find widespread use in theoretical investigations and in applications to organism behavior, disease control, population and metapopulation theory, ecosystem dynamics, and environmental management. This book captures and extends the process of model development by concentrating on the dynamic aspects of these processes and by providing tools that virtually anyone with basic knowledge in the Life Sciences can use to develop meaningful dynamic models. Examples of the systems modeled in the book range from models of cell development, the beating heart, the growth and spread of insects, spatial competition and extinction, to the spread and control of epidemics, including the conditions for the development of chaos. Key Features · Easy-to-learn and easy-to-use software · Includes examples from many subdisciplines of biology, covering models of cells, organisms, populations, and metapopulations · No prior computer or programming experience required Key Benefits · Learn how to develop modeling skills and system thinking on your own rather than use models developed by others · Easily run models under alternative assumptions and investigate the implications of these assumptions for the dynamics of the biological system being modeled · Develop skills to assess the dynamics of biological systems This volume teaches computer modeling of biological systems using models created by STELLA software, including cell development, the beating heart and the spread of epidemics. It includes easy-to-use software modules that require no prior experience to use.