-
Views
-
Cite
Cite
Modelling for Field Biologists and Other Interesting People by Kokko, H., Biometrics, Volume 64, Issue 2, June 2008, Page 662, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-0420.2008.01026_16.x
- Share Icon Share
Extract
The title of this book says a lot about its contents. First, it covers the subject of mathematical and statistical modeling from a low-math perspective. Second, the examples used are taken from field biology, especially the author's area of specialization, sexual selection. Finally, the spirit of the book is light and often humorous (“chatty,” to use the author's own description). The book is intended to be an introduction to a variety of topics, rather than a complete how-to manual. Chapters skim the surface of such topics as population genetics, optimization, game theory, and simulation. Subtitles to each chapter are reminiscent of those in books in the Winnie-the-Pooh series. Meanwhile, chapter contents provide practical, level-headed descriptions and justifications of various models, developed and illustrated extensively through the use of one or more examples. There are a few equations (this is about modeling, after all) and occasional reference to concepts from calculus. Small bits of Matlab code are given to demonstrate how to accomplish some of the tasks involved in modeling, but this aspect of the book is not its main focus.