Quantitative Ecological Theory

This text is concerned with theoretical ecology and the mathematical basis of ecological theory. It examines the construction and analysis of models prevalent in current theory. These include a priori models, simulation, phenomenological models and inductive models. The book is not intended as a general text but more as a manual, with relevant background information, on how to construct and develop models in a mathematical way. Of the major theoretical "issues" in ecology, the problem of ecosystem stability, co-existence of competitors, chaos, predator-prey cycles, and multiple stable-states are all considered as they arise naturally from discussion of particular models. Some basic grounding in ecology, population biology and mathematics is assumed on the part of readers, who will be mainly students taking advanced courses in ecology.