course-details-portlet

ST2302

Stochastic Population Models

Choose study year
Credits 7.5
Level Intermediate course, level II
Course start Spring 2025
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English and norwegian
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement Oral examination

About

About the course

Course content

Modelling of natural populations as stochastic processes. Multiplicative models. Stochastic growth rates. Environmental stochasticity. Demographic stochasticity. Density regulation. Diffusion processes. Stationary distributions. Quasi-stationary distributions. Extinction processes. Age structured populations. Applications in ecology and population genetics with emphasis on conservation of biodiversity.

Learning outcome

1. Knowledge. The student has learned basic population dynamics, including different applications of the concept of probability in population dynamics. The student can solve problemsrelated to modern research in ecology and conservation biology based on stochastic modelling. In particular the student knows how to perform viability analyses in populations withno density regulation, including predictions by stochastic simulations when parameters areunknown.2. Skills. The student can read literature in population dynamics and communicate withbiologists on construction of stochastic models in this field. The student can also formulatestochastic models by the diffusion approximation and perform simple analytical and somemore complex numerical computations by diffusion theory. The student can further performsimple analyses using stochastic age structured population models.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures. An oral final examination is the basis for the grade awarded in the course. The lectures may be given in English. If the course is taught in English, the exam may be given only in English. Students are free to choose Norwegian or English for written assessments.

Further on evaluation

In the case that the student receives an F/Fail as a final grade after both ordinary and re-sit exam, then the student must retake the course in its entirety. Submitted work that counts towards the final grade will also have to be retaken.

The re-sit exam is in August.

Course materials

Will be announced at the start of the course.

Subject areas

  • Statistics

Contact information

Course coordinator

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Mathematical Sciences