Populations, Randomness & Heterogeneity

The main objective of this course is to provide students with all the skills necessary to understand and use the concepts and methods underlying the quantitative study of population phenomena. The main methods of analysis and modeling of these phenomena will be addressed from both a theoretical (formal calculations) and practical (statistics, simulations) perspective, using examples exploring different phylogenetic scales (microbial dynamics, invasive species, human demography), spatial (from local to global) and temporal (transient and permanent regimes, eco-evolutionary coupling) scales, with particular attention paid to heterogeneity (spatial, genetic or phenotypic) and randomness (stochasticity, uncertainties) characteristic of populations or inherent in their study.

Know the concepts and theoretical tools used to study population phenomena, taking into account aspects of heterogeneity and uncertainty. Understand qualitatively the deterministic and stochastic processes underlying population dynamics. Know how to quantitatively analyze population data. Know how to model a population phenomenon in order to understand, describe, and predict its dynamics. Be able to understand and discuss research work in the analysis or modeling of population phenomena.

Continuous assessment: 100%