This is a past event
Presenter: Joseph Thomas, University of Aberdeen.
Title: Schrödinger’s Niche: Exploring Quantum Analogies in Ecological Modelling
Abstract: The niche is a cornerstone concept in ecology and is paramount to understanding how species interact and respond to their environments. The Hutchinsonian definition of the niche, commonly used for modeling species' ecology, is a multidimensional geometry (hypervolume) that defines the range of environmental and biological conditions under which a species can persist. These hypervolumes are central to understanding species distributions and behaviours. In this work-in-progress, I explore intriguing analogies between species dynamics and quantum mechanics. I introduce a prototype model inspired by the Schrödinger equation, generating probability-density analogues for species hypervolumes. This interdisciplinary approach does not suggest that species are quantum objects, but rather aims to investigate whether quantum-mathematical frameworks can offer new perspectives in ecology.
- Speaker
- Joseph Thomas
- Hosted by
- Department of Physics
- Venue
- Meston 317