Mark Lewis, of the University of Alberta, will deliver the 2012 Howard Rowlee Lecture at 4 p.m. on Friday, April 13, in 115 Avery Hall. The lecture will be preceded by a reception in 348 Avery Hall from 3:15-3:50 p.m. In addition to the Rowlee Lecture, there will be a Conference on Mathematical Ecology, April 14-15.

Mathematical models can help us understand the formation of complex spatial patterns, including the territories of wolves and coyotes. Here scent marks provide important cues regarding the use of space. In this talk I will show how biologically-based mechanistic rules can be put into a mathematical model which predicts the process of territorial formation as individuals create and respond to scent marks. The model predicts complex spatial patterns which are seen in nature, such stable `buffer zones' between territories which act as refuges for prey such as deer. The mathematical work is supported by detailed radio-tracking studies of animals. I will also employ the approach of game theory, where each pack attempts to maximize its fitness by increasing intake of prey (deer) and while decreasing interactions with hostile neighboring packs. Here the predictions are compared with radio-tracking data for wolves and coyotes.