SHORT NOTES ON MATHEMATICAL MODELING IN ECOLOGY

- K.V.L.N.ACHARYULU

1) Retrospection on Mathematical modeling

Mathematical modeling is an important interdisciplinary activity which involves the

study of some aspects of diverse disciplines. Biology, Epidemiology, Physiology,
Ecology, Immunology, Bio-Economics, Genetics, Pharmacokinetics are some of those
disciplines. Mathematical Modeling is a quest of methodical scientific computing of the
interaction between the multifarious species. Ever since its inception it has been
extending its yeoman services for the development of science and technology in general
and engineering in particular. It has become the backbone of modern scientific
development. It has extended its sphere with manifold dimensions and every branch of
mathematics has its own importance. This mathematical modeling has raised to the zenith
in recent years and spread to all branches of life and drew the attention of every one.

Mathematical modeling mainly throws light on the effort of widening the areas
through the techniques of mathematics for obtaining a better insight. It also helps to
strengthen our capacity of understanding concerning the various phenomena which take
place in nature. With this insight only we can formulate a new mathematical model.
Applying the suitable mathematical techniques we can reach to a conclusion by reasoning
regarding that new model. We can also compare the results with our observations. If
there are any discrepancies between the theoretical conclusions and the actual
observations they would suggest further improvements.

It is a known fact that in the field of mathematical modeling one is not satisfied
with the use of mathematical techniques that are already known to him. With a quest of
further findings a mathematician with his experiences in different areas of knowledge
will always try to evolve new mathematical techniques. There are so many examples of
this research where the new techniques supplement the existing techniques. The
instances of a real life are always complicated. So in order to make a meaningful
mathematical model one must have the insight to understand the situation. After
thoroughly knowing the situation we can attempt to formulate a new Mathematical
model. After formulating a model we have to notice the consequences of that model with
suitable Mathematical techniques. When we compare the results with our observations4,
if there is any discrepancy between the theoretical conclusions and observations that may
give place for further improvement in the model. It is also possible that this type of
attention was not paid earlier. The modified model is to be tested repeatedly until a
satisfactory model emerges with some tolerable limits for the discrepancies.

2 Discovery and Brief History of Mathematical Modeling:

Mathematics which is known as the queen of sciences for a long time was
rendering its services in the field of physical and engineering sciences only. After many
centuries the fact that mathematics can be used to formulate biological principles has
come into light. Leonardo of Pisa who is also known as Fibonacci proposed a
population model for the rabbit growth in the year 1202. He applied a simple arithmetic
to calculate the number of rabbit pairs with one pair reproduction after every month
choosing a particular pattern After that Giovanni Borelli presented a more systematic
attempt in the year 1860 for formulating mathematical problems in life sciences .
Influenced by these developments many other Mathematicians got interest in these
interdisciplinary investigations. Philosophers, Mathematicians, Physicists, Engineers,
Chemists and life scientists joined this group. In the year 1917 Dr. Arey Went Worth
Thompson brought into light his valuable work on growth and form which is considered
to be the first work of modern theoretical biology in which mathematics is used as an
essential tool . Starting from that work many Mathematicians enriched this area of
knowledge with their publications.
 A general concept of Mathematical modeling was clearly explained in the book
written by Meyer. In the treatises of Cushing Freedman,Wolin Paul Colinvaux works a
detailed study on ecological species is put forth. The monograph written by Bailey gives
us complete information on modeling of infectious and epidemic diseases. Marchuck
discussed about the modeling in immunology in his work. The monograph written by
Addicott Hethcote and Yorke give elaborate information about the modeling of the
communicable disease like gonorrhea. The lecture material of Frautheal deals with the
modeling of some more epidemic diseases. The treatise of Braun mentions some
applications of ordinary differential equation which are in the forms of modeling in life
and social sciences. The monographs written by Brams et al , Boucher , Bronstein ,
Heberman , Lucas et al , and Rogers et al give us some more basic ideals of modeling. In
the area of theoretical ecology significant researches were initiated by Loktha in the year
1925 and by Volterra in the year 1931. Then on wards many Mathematicians and
ecologists Gauss , George F. Simmons , Varma, V.S. and Ogata contributed their might
to the growth of mathematical modeling. According to the treatises of Pielou , May et al ,
Smith , Paul Colinvaux the mathematical ecology can be divided into two parts (1) Static
ecology (2) Dynamic Ecology.

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