Ben Cicchini
Investigating the Ecological Diversity-Stability Debate using Differential Equation Models and Statistical Sampling Techniques
“This project aims to investigate and review the Lokta-Volterra and the Sublinear models for ecosystem diversity
to better understand the diversity-stability debate and make conclusions on whether the sublinear model is a
viable solution to ecological predictions. To achieve this the project will, Explore the validity of the criticism of the sublinear model raised by numerically solving and exploring the behaviour of both the sublinear and GLV models, use random sampling approaches to check if parameter distributions of ecosystem network models that don’t adhere to random matrix theory assumptions recover the diversity-stability curves for the sublinear model and the generalised Lotka-Volterra model and expand the use of Bayesian approaches to the sublinear model.”
Ben Cicchini
Queensland University of Technology
Ben is currently studying a Mechanical Engineering and Applied and Computational Mathematics double degree at QUT. He enjoys learning and understanding how the techniques and theorems of applied math are used to derive the equations that he applies in his engineering studies. He is a keen attendee of the higher degree research seminars held by QUT’s School of Mathematics and is interested in researching within the field of mathematical sciences.
