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.
Original language | American English |
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Pages (from-to) | 22-38 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | Mathematical Modelling of Natural Phenomena |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2011 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Modeling and Simulation
- Applied Mathematics
Keywords
- Boxicity
- Competition graph
- Directed graph
- Dominance
- Food web
- Graph
- Interval graph
- Mathematical model
- Predators and prey
- Trophic level
- Trophic status