Introduction to mathematical modeling and chaotic dynamics (Q2847376)

The book under review has been written as a textbook on fundamentals of mathematical modeling for undergraduate and graduate students. The authors emphasize the role of mathematical models in natural science paying special attention to ecological systems. There are five chapters in the book. Chapter 1 introduces principal ideas of mathematical modeling and classification of mathematical models, main approaches to modeling (empirical, theoretical, stochastic, deterministic, statistical, simulation, discrete, continuous) and fundamental mathematical concepts and techniques including, for instance, Lyapunov stability, linearization, and limit cycles. Several important continuous and discrete models describing the dynamics of a single species and that of two interacting species are introduced in Chapter 2. Theoretical aspects of chaotic dynamics are discussed in Chapter 3, whereas chaotic dynamics in population models is considered in Chapter 4. A number of important engineering models arising in mechanical systems and electrical circuits are addressed in the final Chapter 5. The exposition is well-organized and transparent, many examples are discussed in detail to illustrate the main concepts and methods of mathematical analysis. Each chapter concludes with the lists of references for further reading, Chapters 1 to 4 have also exercises sections; answers and solutions to odd-numbered problems are presented at the end of the book along with a useful index. Overall, this is a good textbook for a course in mathematical modeling with a special emphasis on continuous and discrete dynamics in ecology.