Biography

Cang Hui (family name: Hui; name in Chinese: 惠苍) is a mathematical ecologist currently working at Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch University is a public research university situated in the town of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Other nearby universities are the University of Cape Town and University of the Western Cape....

. He got BSc in applied mathematics at Xi'an Jiaotong University

Xi'an Jiaotong University

Xi'an Jiaotong University , also known as Xi'an Chiao Tung University, is a top Chinese university located in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, People's Republic of China. Xi'an Jiaotong University is located in Xi'an, the ancient capital of China...

, MSc in applied mathematics, with special focuses on biological issues: epidemiological dynamics and pattern formation in spatial ecology at Lanzhou University

Lanzhou University

Lanzhou University, founded in 1909, is a university located in Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China. It provides programs for undergraduate, graduate students on four campuses--three in Lanzhou city centre and one in Yuzhong , which is about 30 miles away from the main campus. Total enrollment is...

, and PhD in ecology at the same university.

Research

Nature never fails to amaze us. My continuous interest is to apply mathematics in the field of ecology for a deeper and more fundamental understanding of emerging ecological patterns. This will not only enhance our understanding in the natural sciences but also challenge the development of mathematics. Scientific research, from my perspective, endeavours to measure natural objects, to quantify patterns and structures from these measurements, and ultimately to identify the mechanisms governing these patterns and structures. This is equal to unveiling (i) what patterns exist in nature, (ii) how such patterns emerge, and (iii) why nature organizes itself in such a way. My research, thus, focuses in three specific areas. First, spatial patterns caused by organism-environment feedback and biotic interactions, such as the consequence of niche construction, the origin of altruism (e.g. the evolution of cooperation), spatial complexity (e.g. from the Allee effect, overcrowding, competition, or predation), and the evolutionary processes (e.g. allopatric speciation). Second, the scaling patterns of species distribution and biodiversity, specifically, macroecological patterns such as the occupancy frequency distribution of species ranges in a community and the non-random aggregated patterns of species distribution and association. Finally, estimating rates of spread from a dispersal kernel. These three areas of research all serve to clarify the relationship among patterns, scales and dynamics in ecological systems.http://academic.sun.ac.za/cib/team/academic/chui.asp

His research includes:



- Scaling pattern of occupancy

Scaling pattern of occupancy

In spatial ecology and macroecology, scaling pattern of occupancy , also known as the area-of-occupancy is the way in which species distribution changes across spatial scales. In physical geography and image analysis, it is similar to the modifiable areal unit problem. Simon A...

- Occupancy frequency distribution

Occupancy frequency distribution

In macroecology and community ecology, an occupancy frequency distribution is the distribution of the numbers of species occupying different numbers of areas. It was first reported in 1918 by the Danish botanist Christen C. Raunkiær in his study on plant communities...

- Occupancy-abundance relationship

Occupancy-abundance relationship

In macroecology, the occupancy-abundance relationship is the relationship between the abundance of species and the size of their ranges within a region. This relationship is perhaps one of the most well-documented relationships in macroecology, and applies both intra- and interspecifically . In...

- Aggregation

Aggregation

Aggregation may refer to uses in:* Business and economics:** Aggregation problem ** Purchasing aggregation, the joining of multiple purchasers in a group purchasing organization to increase their buying power...

- Ecological pattern formation

- Spread of invasive species

Invasive species

"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....

 and the spatiotemporal dynamics

- Ecological prisoner's dilemma

Prisoner's dilemma

The prisoner’s dilemma is a canonical example of a game, analyzed in game theory that shows why two individuals might not cooperate, even if it appears that it is in their best interest to do so. It was originally framed by Merrill Flood and Melvin Dresher working at RAND in 1950. Albert W...

 game

- Niche construction

Niche construction

Niche construction is the process in which an organism alters its own environment, often but not always in a manner that increases its chances of survival...

- Effect of habitat destruction

Habitat destruction

Habitat destruction is the process in which natural habitat is rendered functionally unable to support the species present. In this process, the organisms that previously used the site are displaced or destroyed, reducing biodiversity. Habitat destruction by human activity mainly for the purpose of...

 on metapopulation

Metapopulation

A metapopulation consists of a group of spatially separated populations of the same species which interact at some level. The term metapopulation was coined by Richard Levins in 1970 to describe a model of population dynamics of insect pests in agricultural fields, but the idea has been most...

dynamics

External links

- Personal webpage: http://academic.sun.ac.za/cib/team/academic/chui.asp

- ResearcherID from Thomson Reuters: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/A-1781-2008