Anomalous Diffusion Of Heterogeneous Populations Characterised By Normal Diffusion At The Individual Level

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 13 Aug 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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The results are part of a wider research project investigating the behaviour of slug-killer nematodes in soil. Huge crop damages are produced by slugs every year, and the classical way to fight against these pests is by using chemicals that are harmful to the environment.

An alternative that we have are the naturally-occurring nematodes. We use a combination of experimental and mathematical techniques to investigate what control nematode-slug movement in soil.

We found that nematodes form a heterogeneous population, each individual having different strategies that need to be considered to help us understanding the biocontrol at field scale.

Journal of the Royal Society Interface

The Journal of the Royal Society Interface is the Society's cross-disciplinary publication promoting research at the interface between the physical and life sciences. It offers rapidity, visibility and high-quality peer review and is ranked fifth in JCR's multidisciplinary category. The journal also incorporates Interface Focus, a peer-reviewed, themed supplement, each issue of which concentrates on a specific cross-disciplinary subject.

Journal of the Royal Society Interface