An overwiew of the most typical problems one encounters in enviromental planning and management. Emphasis on relationships with nonlinear dynamics. [lecture notes]
Further reading: Journal of Enviromental Management (1996), 48, 357-373.
Description of the problem through a model of competition between floating and submerged plants. Analysis of the model: alternative stable states. Bifurcation analysis and derivation of possible control actions. Analysys of the history of Lake Kariba on the Zambesi river. [lecture notes]
Further reading: PNAS (2003), 100, 4040-4045.
Description of the problem through a series of minimal models. Existence of catastrophic bifurcations (forest collapse). Cusp bifurcation: negative synergistic effect of acid rain and exploitation. [lecture notes]
Further reading: Vegetatio (1987), 69, 213-222; Appl. Math. Modelling (1989), 13, 674-681; Theor. Pop. Biol. (1998), 54, 257-269.
Description of the problem in terms of minimal models involving algae, zooplankton and planktivorous fish. Analysis of the bifurcations of the model: the appearance and disappearance of clear-water regimes. Biological control. [lecture notes]
Further reading: OIKOS (1997), 80, 519-532.
The three components of the problem: tourists, environment and facilities. Detection of possible scenarios. Profitable, compatible and sustainable policies. Adaptivity. The case of alternative classes of tourists and of diversified investments. [lecture notes]
Further reading: Conservation Ecology (2002), 6(1): 13 [online]; Chaos and Complexity Letters (2005), 1, 121-133.
Exploitation of renewable resources. Enrichment and mean yield maximization. Analysis of the case of tritrophic food chains. Optimality at the edge of chaos. Derivation of management rules. [lecture notes]
Further reading: Am. Nat. (1997) 150, 328-345; Bull. Math. Biol. (1998) 60, 703-719; Ecol. Lett. (1999) 2, 6-10; J. Math. Biol. (2002) 45, 396-418.