Justified Modeling Frameworks and Novel Interpretations of Ecological and Epidemiological Systems

The Lotka-Volterra and the Kermack-McKendrick models are well celebrated and widely recognized in the field of ecology and epidemiology. Several modified ordinary differential equation models have been proposed over the last many decades to rationalize complex biological phenomena. In the current century, researchers have paid much attention to developing new modeling frameworks with delay differential equations, difference equations, fractional order systems, stochastic differential equations, etc. No doubt, these models have emerged many new bifurcations theory and methods which have equally contributed to the advances of Mathematics and interdisciplinary research. It is argued that these new modeling frameworks perform more effectively in analyzing and interpreting results compared to the conventional modeling frameworks with ordinary differential equations. However, implications of emerged bifurcations from new modeling approaches are often less interpreted from a biological viewpoint. Even, there is also a lack of understanding of how a fractional order model, for instance, displays a more realistic scenario to analyze a biological process. Therefore, a more serious justification is essential while modeling any biological event.

This Research Topic invites researchers to showcase their findings with appropriate modeling schemes and analysis of ecological and epidemiological processes. A modeling approach should be validated through case studies, experimental data, field observations, or some other concrete justifications. Comparisons in results between different modeling frameworks should be emphasized in the contributions. Non-trivial mathematical methods in investigating models are most welcomed; however simulation results establishing novel ecological theories and principles are equally acceptable. Researchers are invited to submit their high quality and well-motivated contributions on any one or more of the following subtopics (but not limited too), which are well coherent with the above theme:

- Discrete-time models and chaos
- Time delay responses in biological events
- Structured population dynamics
- Optimal management of fishery and wild-life
- Ecological resilience and sustainability
- Hydra effects in ecological and disease models
- Biological pest control
- Pattern formations of biological species
- Endemic and pandemic modeling
- Local and nonlocal movements in epidemiology

This Research Topic welcomes original research, review, and mini-review articles.

Keywords: Dynamical systems, Population biology, Stability and bifurcations, Biological conservation, Disease control

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.