My expertise lies in understanding and predicting the spatial and temporal dynamics of populations. Most of these populations are animals or plants although a wide range of systems can be treated using similar approaches. I mainly apply my methods to questions within our four core research areas, but I also spend time looking for and working on other areas to which I can contribute.
Alongside the other members of the Computational Science research group I advocate a "joined-up" approach to conducting my research. I mainly position my perspective at the level of the population and then look at how the dynamics at that level are influenced by, and determinants of, ecosystem properties at the level of the individual (e.g. behaviour, physiology) and the community (e.g. food web structure).
It is often taught that to quantify changes in a population one “simply” has to take into account the inputs (births and immigration) and the outputs (deaths and emigration). However, as the figure on the right summarises, it is typically a lot more complicated than that. The reality is that populations are affected by a large number of factors operating on multiple spatial and temporal scales. Moreover, these factors interact with each other in ways that are far from being fully understood. Current state of the art population ecology research investigates the impact of these different factors, and their interactions, on the spatial and temporal dynamics recorded for populations.
The general goals of my research are to
- Explain what can and cannot be inferred about a particular ecosystem based on the observed spatial and temporal dynamics of the populations, and
- Propose the most likely phenomena that could have caused the observed population dynamics.
Current research projects include
Tools for analysing and interpreting data on disease dynamics. (Ecological Networks) Datasets on disease spread in human and wildlife populations are increasing in size and variety. This project will address how can we best understand and predict host-pathogen dynamics in wildlife populations and whether we can predict the risk posed to human populations from zoonoses through the study of their dynamics in their wildlife reservoirs.
Exploring the significance of the different mathematical concepts of stability for ecological systems. (Spatial Ecology and Biogeography) Spatiotemporal models of ecological systems are now common. Knowing the precise type of stability for solutions to these models can indicate what dynamics will be observed in spatiotemporal field data. However, understanding the different categorisations of stability is demanding even for many mathematicians, let alone ecologists. This collaborative project will aim to explain clearly what is meant by these different concepts and show how they can be computed.
Tools to aid in making non-detriment statements. (Plant Ecology) International trade in species listed on Appendix II of CITES is allowed providing exporting countries declare that the export will not be detrimental to the survival of the species. However, there is a general perception that the scientific basis used for making such “Non-Detriment Declarations” could be improved. One key computational challenge is in bringing together the knowledge and tools to allow the basis for making Non-Detriment statements to be assessed, and for sustainable harvest levels to be set. This collaborative project will aim towards developing computational aids to making non-detriment statements, primarily using the well regarded non-detriment making system for snowdrops (Galanthus spp.) in Turkey as a model system to test the concept.
Tools to aid in Scientific Teaching and Communication. (All themes) Improving the communication of scientific principles and techniques is a widely desired goal in schools, universities and academic institutions. One of the key challenges in achieving this is in developing communication methods that are understandable and memorable to a varied audience. This project will explore the potential benefits of using small computational “toys” to demonstrate key ideas in scientific communication.
- Matthew J. Smith and Jonathan A. Sherratt, Propagating fronts in the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation generate fixed-width bands of plane waves., in Physical Review E, 6 October 2009
- Matthew J. Smith, Jens D. M. Rademacher, and Jonathan A. Sherratt, Absolute stability of wavetrains can explain spatiotemporal dynamics in reaction-diffusion systems of lambda-omega type, in SIAM Journal of Applied Dynamical Systems, 8(3), 1136-1159, 27 August 2009
- Jonathan A. Sherratt, Matthew J. Smith, and Jens D.M. Rademacher, Locating the transition from periodic oscillations to spatiotemporal chaos in the wake of invasion, in Proceedings of that National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106(27), pp. 10890-10895, 7 July 2009
- Noel McGough, Richard Wilford, Lucy Garrett, and Matthew Smith, Georgian Bulb Quota, no. MSR-TR-2009-77, 30 June 2009
- Matthew J. Smith, Sandra Telfer, Eva R. Kallio, Sarah Burthe, Alex R. Cook, Xavier Lambin, and Michael Begon, Host-pathogen time series data in wildlife support a transmission function between density and frequency dependence, in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106(19), pp. 7905-7909, 12 May 2009
- Begon, M., Telfer, S., Smith, M.J., Burthe, S., Paterson, S., Lambin, and X., Seasonal host dynamics drive the timing of recurrent epidemics in a wildlife, in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 20 January 2009
- Matthew J. Smith, The application of population modelling techniques to the development of Non-detriment Findings for Galanthus elwesii in Turkey., in International Expert Workshop on CITES Non-Detriment Findings, 17 November 2008
- M. Begon, S. Telfer, S. Burthe, X. Lambin, M. Smith, and S. Paterson, Effects of abundance on infection in natural populations: field voles and cowpox virus., in Epidemics, 6 October 2008
- Matthew Smith, Jonathan Sherratt, and Xavier Lambin, The effects of density dependent dispersal on the spatiotemporal dynamics of cyclic populations, in Journal of Theoretical Biology, Elsevier Ltd., 21 September 2008
- Fergus P. Massey, Matthew J. Smith, Xavier Lambin, and Sue E. Hartley, Are silica defences in grasses driving vole population cycles?, in Biology Letters, January 2008
Submitted
1. M.J. Smith, J.A. Sherratt. Propagating fronts in the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation generate fixed-width bands of plane waves.
2. J.A. Sherratt, M.J. Smith, J.D.M. Rademacher. Patterns of Sources and Sinks in the Complex Ginzburg-Landau Equation with Zero Linear Dispersion.
Other peer-reviewed publications
M.Smith, A.White, J.A.Sherratt, S.Telfer, M.Begon, X.Lambin, (2008) Disease effects on reproduction can cause population cycles in seasonal environments. Journal of Animal Ecology, 77(2), 378-389 doi:10.1111/j.1365-2656.2007.01328.x. Supplementary Material .
M.J. Smith, J.A.Sherratt (2007) The effects of unequal diffusion coefficients on periodic travelling wave properties in oscillatory reaction diffusion systems. Physica D, 236(2), 90-103, doi:10.1016/j.physd.2007.07.013
Sherratt, J.A. & Smith M.J. (2008) REVIEW, Periodic Travelling Waves in Cyclic Populations: Field studies and reaction-diffusion models. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2007.1327 Proc. R. Soc. Interface, 5, 483-505.
M.J. Smith, R.Sibly (2008) Identification of tradeoffs underlying the primary strategies of plants. Available online, Evolutionary Ecology Research , 10(1), 45-60.
M.J. Smith, J.A.Sherratt, N.J.Armstrong, (2008) The effects of obstacle size on periodic travelling waves in oscillatory reaction-diffusion equations. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London - Series A, 464, 365-390. doi: 10.1098/rspa.2007.0198.
M.J. Smith, A.White, J.A.Sherratt, X.Lambin, M.Begon, (2006) Delayed Density Dependent Season Length Alone can Lead to Rodent Population Cycles. American Naturalist 167(5), 695-704. doi: 10.1086/503119.
C.Buckee, K.Koelle, M.J. Mustard (Smith), S.Gupta, (2004). The Effects of Host Contact Network Structure on Pathogen Diversity and Strain Structure. PNAS 101(29), 10839-44. doi:10.1073/pnas.0402000101
M.J.Aitkenhead, M.J.Mustard (Smith), A.J.S.McDonald, (2004). Using neural networks to predict spatial structure in ecological systems. Ecol. Mod. 179(3), 393-403. doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2004.05.008.
M.J. Mustard (Smith), D.B.Standing, M.J.Aitkenhead, D.Robinson, A.J.S.McDonald (2003). The emergence of primary strategies in evolving virtual-plant populations. Evol. Ecol. Res. 5, 1067-81. Available online.
Other Publications
Smith, M.J., Brodie, C., Kowalczyk, J., Michnowicz, S. & McGough, H.N. (2006). CITES Orchid Checklist Volume 4.
United Nations (2005). “Endangered Species” stamp series. Contributed text.
Mustard (Smith), M.J. & Yuzbasioglu, S. (2005). Turkish Delights. Kew Magazine, Spring 2005
McGough, H.N. Groves, M.G. Sajeva, M. Mustard (Smith), M.J. & Brodie, C (2004). CITES and Succulents, A User’s Guide. Lego Press
McGough, H.N. Groves, M.G., Mustard (Smith), M.J.‡ & Brodie, C.(2004). CITES and Plants, A User’s Guide. Lego Press
Williams, C. Davis, K. & Cheyne, P. (with the assistance of Mustard (Smith), M.J. & Brodie, C) (2003). The CBD, for Botanists.
The observed dynamics of a population is influenced by a number of factors, the life history (demographic transitions, lifespan), genetics (both current genotype and future evolution), dispersal (immigration, emigration and general movement), the abiotic environment (resources, seasonality, extreme events), the biotic environment (other species, the food web), the sampling design (spatial and temporal resolution, observational error), as well as stochasticity in all of these factors.
Contact Details
Dr. Matthew Smith
Postdoctoral Researcher
Computational Ecology and Environmental Science Group
Microsoft Research Ltd.
Roger Needham Building
7 J J Thompson Avenue
Cambridge, CB3 0FB, UK
+44(0)1223479784
mattsmi(at)microsoft(dot)com
