Abstracts for Colin Clark, Clanton Visiting Mathematician, 2007-2008

2007-08

In April of 2008, the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Economics welcomed the 2007-08 Donald H. Clanton Visiting Mathematician: Dr. Colin Clark Professor Emeritus of Mathematics University of British Columbia Dr. Clark gave two talks on April 17, 2008. DYNAMIC MODELS OF ANIMAL BEHAVIOR Johns Hall 101 April 17, 2008 4:00 PM The 1980s saw the development of a new field of evolutionary biology, called Behavioral Ecology. From the beginning, behavioral ecologists used optimization models to help understand observed behavior patterns in animals. It was soon recognized that dynamic models would be needed, but few biologists were adept at dynamic optimization! How this nut was cracked will be the topic of today’s lecture. __________________________________________________   THE MATHEMATICS OF CONSERVATION Younts Conference Center April 17, 2008 7:30 PM How should we manage a renewable resource, such as a forest or a fishery? What is the optimal harvest rate? How do resource managers figure this out? The key is to construct a mathematical model of the resource population, and then to calculate the optimal harvest strategy. Dr. Clark will explain how mathematics can help – or hinder – resource management. The level of mathematics will be quite simple (though the problem is actually quite complicated!).