Populations, Randomness & Heterogeneity

The main aim of this course is to provide the skills needed to understand and use the concepts and methods on which the quantitative study of population phenomena is based. The main methods for analyzing and modeling these phenomena will be approached from both a theoretical (formal calculations) and practical (statistics, simulations) point of view, using examples exploring different phylogenetic scales (microbial dynamics, invasive species, human demography), spatial (from local to global) and temporal (transient and steady-state regimes, eco-evolutionary coupling), with particular attention to the heterogeneity (spatial, genetic or phenotypic) and randomness (stochasticity, uncertainties) characteristic of populations or inherent to their study.

Understand the theoretical concepts and tools needed to approach the study of population phenomena, taking into account aspects of heterogeneity and randomness. Understand qualitatively the deterministic and stochastic processes underlying population dynamics. Analyze population data quantitatively. Model population phenomena in order to understand, describe and predict their dynamics. Be able to understand and discuss a research paper analyzing or modeling a population phenomenon.

100% continuous assessment