Population dynamics models in plant-insect herbivore-pesticide interactions.
We consider several population dynamics models in investigating data from controlled experiments with aphids in broccoli patches surrounded by different margin types (bare or weedy ground) and three levels of insecticide spray (no, light, or heavy spray). We carry out parameter estimation computations along with statistical analysis to compare autonomous versus non-autonomous model dynamics. We conclude with a brief discussion of some not-so-subtle pitfalls that can arise when using quantitative measures of model fit-to-data to make biological inferences as well as offer a positive example of how one might combine a priori biological hypothesis and intuition with rather sophisticated (from a field biology viewpoint) mathematical methodologies to suggest synergisms.
Center for Research in Scientific Computation and Department of Mathematics, North Carolina State University, Box 8205, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
B M
BM
Adams
H T
HT
Banks
J E
JE
Banks
J D
JD
Stark
D000818:Animals; D001042:Aphids / Q000502:physiology; D001937:Brassica / Q000187:drug effects / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology; D007313:Insecta / Q000502:physiology; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008433:Mathematics; D008954:Models, Biological; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000469:parasitology*; D011157:Population Dynamics
D007306:Insecticides