Linking theory with data in spatial ecology and epidemiology

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Understanding the spatial patterns occurring in ecological communities and during outbreaks of disease can tell us a great deal about the underlying processes involved. Understanding these mechanisms can in turn help us to predict and manage these biological systems. For example, knowing which environmental variables affect the spatial spread of disease vectors or invasive species, or the distribution of threatened species, as well as their ability to move across the landscape, will help us understand how best to eradicate, control, or preserve them. Mathematicians have built many abstract models that describe the spatial dynamics of organisms, but these models can be hard to connect with data. Statisticians develop tools for quantifying spatial patterns, but they can be hard to connect with the biological mechanisms.