MI-Sim

MI-Sim analyzes ecological network motifs and microbial interactions by implementing mechanistic ordinary differential equation models as an extension for MATLAB.

Key Features:

• MATLAB extension: Implemented as an extension for MATLAB to run analyses and simulations within the MATLAB environment.
• Ecological motif library: Includes seven ecological interaction motifs, including cooperation, competition, and predation, representing feeding relationships between consumers and producers across scales.
• Growth function models: Incorporates seven growth function models to simulate a range of dynamic behaviors in ecological systems.
• Numerical analysis tools: Supports model simulation, steady-state existence and stability analysis, and basin of attraction analysis for dynamical systems.
• Mechanistic ODE modeling: Uses mechanistic mathematical modeling with ordinary differential equations to describe dynamic interactions among species or components.
• Microbial interaction focus: Targets analysis of microbial interactions and ecological network motifs relevant to microbial ecology and biological mathematics.

Scientific Applications:

• Microbial ecology: Simulates and analyzes microbial interaction motifs to predict dynamic behavior and assess system stability.
• Food-web and trophic interactions: Studies feeding relationships between consumers and producers to evaluate interaction outcomes across scales.
• Conservation biology and ecosystem management: Explores potential outcomes and stability under varied conditions to inform ecosystem-level assessments.
• Theoretical ecology and mathematical biology: Investigates steady states, stability properties, and basins of attraction in ecological dynamical systems.

Methodology:

Mechanistic mathematical modeling using ordinary differential equations, with computational methods including model simulation, steady-state existence and stability analysis, and basin of attraction analysis.