Instructor: Dr. Sally Otto, Department of Zoology (otto@zoology.ubc.ca)

• Office hours: Fridays 1:30-2:30, or by appointment (Biodiversity 210)

Teaching assistant: Leithen M'Gonigle (mgonigle@zoology.ubc.ca)

• Office hours: Tuesdays 4-5 or by appointment (Biodiversity 311)

Textbook and Lecture Notes:

• A Biologist's Guide to Mathematical Modeling in Ecology and Evolution, Otto & Day (2007) Princeton University Press -
  Available at the bookstore or order online.
• Lecture notes, Otto (2006) - Available at Copiesmart (in the Village, 5728 University Blvd; 604 222-3189) or the course web-site

Additional References: On reserve at Woodward

• Population Biology. Hastings (1997)
• Theory of Population Genetics and Evolutionary Ecology. Roughgarden (1996)
• Theoretical Evolutionary Ecology. Bulmer (1994)
• Mathematical Models in Biology. Edelstein-Keshet (1988)

Synopsis: The lectures cover basic mathematical models used in ecology and evolutionary biology. Topics include models of population growth, species interactions, demography, natural selection, and disease dynamics. The computer labs will focus on learning to use mathematical software packages that aid in the solution of models of interest in biology.

Requirements: All students will be required to do weekly readings and homework assignments (due on Thursdays in class). In addition, there will be weekly computer labs (either Tuesdays 12:00-12:50 or 1:00-1:50 in Biological Sciences 2434), where you will learn to use the software package Mathematica to help analyse models. The computer lab is open from 8-5 weekdays, and available computers can be used to complete homework assignments even when other classes are in the room. Mathematica is also available on the computers in the undergraduate computing room (Bio Sci 1129).

Course grades will depend on homework (25%), computer lab assignments/participation (10%), midterm (20%) [Thursday, October 21], course project (10%) [preliminary question and equations or diagram due Thursday November 25, final project due Thursday December 2], and the final (35%).

Communications: Homework assignments, answers to student questions, and a large portion of the lecture material will be posted on the class web site: http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/~bio301/. Special announcements will also be sent to students by email.

Back to biology 301 home page.