Cover image for Game-theoretical models in biology
Title:
Game-theoretical models in biology
Personal Author:
Series:
Chapman & Hall/CRC mathematical and computational biology series
Publication Information:
Boca Raton, FL : CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, 2013
Physical Description:
xxiii, 494 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm.
ISBN:
9781439853214
Abstract:
"Preface: Since its inception in the 1960s, evolutionary game theory has become increasingly influential in the modelling of biology, both in terms of mathematical developments and especially in the range of applications. Important biological phenomena, such as the fact that the sex ratio of so many species is close to a half, the evolution of cooperative behaviour and the existence of costly ornaments like the peacock's tail, have been explained using ideas underpinned by game theoretical modelling. The key concept in biological games is the Evolutionarily Stable Strategy (ESS), which resists invasion by all others once it has achieved dominance in the population. This static concept is very powerful, and is the focus of analysis of the majority of models, and while we discuss numerous other mathematical concepts, this is the most important one for our book. For a number of years the authors have been aware that, while there are a number of good books on evolutionary games, a particular type of book that we were looking for did not exist. The catalyst for writing this book was a discussion between Nick Britton and MB on the subject of books in evolutionary game theory. Nick was looking for a book on this subject for the Taylor and Francis Mathematical and Computational Biology book series. After discussing this, the authors decided that this was an opportunity to write the book we had been looking for. The book that we were missing was a wide ranging book covering the major topics of evolutionary game theory, containing both the more abstract mathematical models and a range of mathematical models of real biological situations, and this is the book we have tried to write"--provided by publisher
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32050000000122 QH323.5 B76 2013 Open Access Book Book
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Summary

Summary

Covering the major topics of evolutionary game theory, Game-Theoretical Models in Biology presents both abstract and practical mathematical models of real biological situations. It discusses the static aspects of game theory in a mathematically rigorous way that is appealing to mathematicians. In addition, the authors explore many applications of game theory to biology, making the text useful to biologists as well.

The book describes a wide range of topics in evolutionary games, including matrix games, replicator dynamics, the hawk-dove game, and the prisoner's dilemma. It covers the evolutionarily stable strategy, a key concept in biological games, and offers in-depth details of the mathematical models. Most chapters illustrate how to use MATLAB® to solve various games.

Important biological phenomena, such as the sex ratio of so many species being close to a half, the evolution of cooperative behavior, and the existence of adornments (for example, the peacock's tail), have been explained using ideas underpinned by game theoretical modeling. Suitable for readers studying and working at the interface of mathematics and the life sciences, this book shows how evolutionary game theory is used in the modeling of these diverse biological phenomena.


Author Notes

Mark Broom is a professor of mathematics at City University London. For 20 years, he has carried out mathematical research in game theory applied to biology. His major research themes include multi-player games, patterns of evolutionarily stable strategies, models of parasitic behavior (especially kleptoparasitism), the evolution of defense and signaling, and evolutionary processes on graphs. He received his PhD in mathematics from the University of Sheffield.

Jan Rychtář is an associate professor of mathematics at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he helped start a math-biology research group involving faculty and students from the biology and mathematics departments. He works on game theoretical models and mathematical models of kleptoparasitism. His recent research themes focus on models of brood parasitism in dung beetles, models of mate selection in honey bees, and evolutionary processes on graphs. He received his PhD in mathematics from the University of Alberta.


Table of Contents

The Basics
Introduction
What Is a Game?
The Underlying Biology
Some Classical Games
Mathematical Models
Matrix Games
Asymmetric Games
Nonlinear Games
Multi-Player Games
Structured Games
Adaptive Dynamics
Further Concepts in Game Theory
Biological Applications
The Evolution of Cooperation
Group Living
Mating Games I: Obtaining Mates
Mating Games II: Selecting Mates
Food Competition I: Indirect Competition
Food Competition II: Direct Competition
Predator-Prey Interactions
Parasitic Behavior
Life History Theory
Epidemic Models
Selection below the Level of the Organism
Conclusions
The Future
Summary and Overview
Appendix