Mathematics Biology Seminar
2:00pm - 3:00pm, Wednesday, April 9, 2025
MSB 318
Speaker:
Dr. Christen Fleming
Department of Biology
University of Central Florida
Title: Resource selection and habitat suitability in animal movement and species distribution
Abstract: There is currently a divide between mathematical and applied models of animal movement in the context of spatial covariates, where individuals move in a way to select resources and avoid risks. Whereas mathematical biologists tend to consider animal movement as advection-diffusion equations, applied ecologists tend to consider animal movement in a discrete choice framework. While advection diffusion-equations provide continuous-time mathematical descriptions of movement, they generally require unrealistic assumptions regarding the continuity of spatial covariates. On the other hand, while discrete choice models can be easily fit to data, their discrete-time structure limits inferential capabilities. This seminar will explore integrating these approaches to enhance our understanding of resource selection and habitat suitability. By constructing continuous-time models of resource selection, we aim to develop a comprehensive framework that can accurately predict resource utilization patterns and inform conservation and management strategies.
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