Animal behaviour is an endless challenge to mathematical modellers. In this, the first of two features, Mark Buchanan looks at how a mathematical principle from physics might be able to explain patterns of movement. In the second, Arran Frood asks what current models can teach us about ecological networks half a billion years old.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Relevant articles
Open Access articles citing this article.
-
Spatial heterogeneities of human-mediated dispersal vectors accelerate the range expansion of invaders with source–destination-mediated dispersal
Scientific Reports Open Access 08 December 2020
-
Swarm dynamics may give rise to Lévy flights
Scientific Reports Open Access 28 July 2016
-
Mussels realize Weierstrassian Lévy walks as composite correlated random walks
Scientific Reports Open Access 18 March 2014
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Viswanathan, G. M. et al. Nature 381, 413–415 (1996).
Viswanathan, G. M. et al. Nature 401, 911–914 (1999).
Viswanathan, G. M., Raposob, E. P. & da Luz, M. G. E. Phys. Life Rev. (in the press) doi:10.1016/j.plrev.2008.03.002
González, M. C., Hidalgo, C. A. & Barabási, A.-L. Nature 453, 779–782 (2008).
Edwards, A. M. et al. Nature 449, 1044–1048 (2007).
Sims, D. W. et al. Nature 451, 1098–1102 (2008).
Brockmann, D., Hufnagel, L. & Geisel, T. Nature 439, 462–465 (2006).
Related links
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Buchanan, M. Ecological modelling: The mathematical mirror to animal nature. Nature 453, 714–716 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/453714a
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/453714a
