Mathematical Models of Floral Attraction: Stochastic Approaches to Pollination Dynamics

Flowers and pollinators have co-evolved intricate strategies to find each other, which may be studied through mathematical modeling. In this talk, I present stochastic models that describe the dynamics of insect attraction to flowers. A key case study is the world’s largest flower, Rafflesia, which relies on volatile cues to lure carrion flies. Using stochastic methods, I examine how environmental variability, flower geometry and pollinator behavior influence attraction dynamics. This framework also extends to other sensory modalities, offering potential applications in understanding electroreception in bees, and how plants might use flowers to exploit this sensing modality. By focusing on the mathematical structure of these interactions, this work provides insight into the mechanisms underlying plant-insect communication.

Mathematical Models of Floral Attraction: Stochastic Approaches to Pollination Dynamics

Monday, July 14 at 6:00pm

Javier Chico Vazquez

"Mathematical Models of Floral Attraction: Stochastic Approaches to Pollination Dynamics"

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