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This introduction to mathematical methods that are useful for studying population phenomena is intended for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, and will be accessible to scientists who do not have a strong mathematics background. The material is graded in mathematical difficulty. The earlier parts of Mathematical Methods of Population Biology involve elementary diference equations while later chapters present topics that require more mathematical preparation. Models of total population and population age structure are first derived and studied, and then models of random population events are presented in terms of Markov chains. The last two chapters deal with mathematical methods used to uncover qualitative behaviour of more complicated difference equations. Each chapter begins with a simple model, usually of some historical interest, that defines the primary goals of the chapter. Exercises, for which solutions are provided, illustrate material in the text and also deal with models more advanced than those derived and studied in the text.
Preface
1. Population dynamics
2. Renewal theory and reproduction matrices
3. Markov chains
4. Perturbation methods
5. Dispersal processes
Appendix
Solutions to selected exercises
References
Author index
Subject index
What makes for a good mathematics textbook? Challenging, didactic exercises with hints and solutions are a sine qua non: without them you might have a good monograph, but not a good text. Score several points for Hoppensteadt's book, with its meaty exercises...I would recommend the book for a senior or graduate-level course...also valuable as a sourcebook of ideas for applied mathematicians who want to get into this branch of mathematical biology. Mathematical Biosciences
