Modelling the spread of infectious diseases in forest systems

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The importance of pests and diseases associated with forests has never been greater, with highly damaging outbreaks, evidence of greater spread and impact, new organisms being introduced, and established threats exacerbated by changes in climate and host availability. Alongside fieldwork and experiments, theoretical models can provide key insights into how infectious diseases spread, but the spatially-structured nature of forest ecosystems presents key modelling challenges.In this project we will develop mathematical and computational models to understand the dynamics of infectious disease within forest ecosystems. The challenge of the PhD project will be to include vital real-world details into models, for example:- seasonality in both the disease and tree life-history traits,- periodic disturbances such as wildfires, and different disease control strategies,- community structure