Projekt

Bioinvasion refers to the geographical expansion of species into a new range, in which they establish, spread and persist to the detriment of the environment. An important case is given by the spread of virulent diseases, caused by micro-parasites transported to new habitats. The proposed research is designed to apply complex network theory to investigate the dynamics of bioinvasion in large-scale transportation networks, ranging from aviation and traffic networks, networks of trade- and ship-routes, to migratory bird travel routes. The analysis is based on simulation studies and analytical methods, taking into account realistic biological details of the invasive process. One goal is to identify universal rules of the invasion process in dependence of the network topology. Further, issues of risk assessment, prediction and management are treated.

• Prof. Dr. Bernd Blasius

  Universität Oldenburg
  Fakultät V
  Institut für Chemie und Biologie des Meeres (ICBM)
  Oldenburg
  

• Prof. Dr. Bryan Grenfell

  The Pennsylvania State University
  Penn State
  Biology Department
  Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics
  University Park
  USA
  

• Prof. Dr. Dirk Brockmann

  Northwestern University
  Department of Engineering Sciences
  and Applied Mathematics
  Evanston, IL
  USA
  

• Dr. Lars Hufnagel

  University of California - Santa Barbara
  Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics
  Santa Barbara
  USA