Meeting 1 (September 27, 2007)

Discussion facilitator -- Etsuko Nonaka
Use of integrodifference equations in modeling spread of organisms; main paper Kot et al. 1996 Ecology (77(7): 2027-2042).
Supplemental readings:

1. Veit and Lewis. 1996. American Naturalist (148(2): 255-274). -- an example of the application of integrodifference equations to invasion of house finch in USA.
   
2. Clark. 1998. American Naturalist (152(2): 204-224). -- another example. Application to migration of trees after glaciation.
   
3. Holmes et al. 1996. Ecology (75(1): 17-29). -- This is not about integrodifference equations, but about partial differential equations in ecology. However, many theories of spatial spread in ecology were developed using PDEs. Integrodifference equations are more recent techniques.
   

Post-meeting notes: We had a good turnout. We discussed the Kot paper for an hour and all felt that the discussion was fruitful (I hope). We left Adam's interesting question about the ecological meaning of the higher order conservation law regarding equation 16 to another opportunity. Also, we were not able to figure out the meaning of Figures 7 and 9 in the paper. If you need things to think about while you are taking a shower or lining up for food, maybe you can think about these things!!!
I forgot to mention this: Clark (1998) simulated tree migration using a truncated kernel, and he observed accelerating spreading rates. Kot et al, in the Discussion, stated that truncated kernels will NOT generate accelerating rate. Discrepancy....