Ecology studies biodiversity in its variety and complexity. It describes how species distribute
and perform in response to environmental changes. Ecological processes and structures are
highly complex and adaptive. In order to quantify emerging ecological patterns and investigate
their hidden mechanisms we need to rely on the simplicity of mathematical language. Ecological
patterns are emerging structures observed in populations communities and ecosystems.
Elucidating drivers behind ecological patterns can greatly improve our knowledge of how
ecosystems assemble function and respond to change and perturbation. Mathematical ecology has
thus become an important interdisciplinary research field that can provide answers to complex
global issues such as climate change and biological invasions. The aim of this book is to (i)
introduce key concepts in ecology and evolution (ii) explain classic and recent important
mathematical models for investigating ecological and evolutionary dynamics and (iii) provide
real examples in ecology biology environmental sciences that have used these models to address
relevant issues. Readers are exposed to the key concepts frameworks and terminology in the
studies of ecology and evolution which will enable them to ask the correct and relevant
research questions and frame the questions using appropriate mathematical models.
