Study level

PhD

Master of Philosophy

Honours

Vacation research experience scheme

Faculty/School

Faculty of Science

School of Mathematical Sciences

Topic status

We're looking for students to study this topic.

Supervisors

Dr Matthew Adams
Position
Research Fellow (DECRA)
Division / Faculty
Faculty of Science

Overview

This project seeks to use mathematical models to detect "alternative stable states" in ecology - a behaviour in which the ecosystem can get "stuck" in one state (e.g. pristine) or another (e.g. irreversibly degraded).

Research activities

  • Code up mathematical models (e.g. ordinary differential equation models in MATLAB).
  • Calibrate models to data.
  • Classify the fitted models as expressing "alternative stable states" or not.

Outcomes

  • New mathematical methods for detecting "alternative stable states" in ecology.
  • Development of expertise in multidisciplinary research, cutting across mathematics, ecology and (possibly) statistics.
  • Write a paper to be published in the scientific literature.

Skills and experience

Excellent skills in coding and analysis of ordinary differential equation models, and an interest in using mathematics to address applied ecology problems.

Scholarships

You may be eligible to apply for a research scholarship.

Explore our research scholarships

Keywords

Contact

Contact the supervisor for more information.