Abstracts

I briefly review the history of models for population dynamics, and the use of networks in ecology. Then, I review the concept of local asymptotic stability, and show the main result of Robert May’s 1972 article ”Will a large complex system be stable?”. I end with a brief introduction to the field of random matrix theory. Random matrices and stability of large ecological systems Saturday, September 19, 2015. h 11.30- 12.30 I show how random matrix theory can be applied to many ecological problems. I review applications to the study of stability, reactivity and persistence of large ecological communities. I show numerical results extending current methods in random matrices, and discuss their ecological implications. I conclude with a list of challenges whose solution will improve our understanding of the dynamics of large biological systems