Week 2: Mathematical Breakthroughs And Urban Philosophy

Welcome back to my blog!

I’ve done more research, and have found articles which provide equations for annually calculating the total standing feral cat population, as well as annually calculating the total standing solitary bee population. I’ve slightly modified the equation for the number of feral cats, provided by Dr. Jeff Sharpe’s 2016 Ph.D. from the University of Central Florida, in order to adjust to the circumstances of NYC, the scope of the project, and difference in assumptions:

Density of kittens = (Change in density of kittens over one generation)-[(kitten birth rate)(density of fertile females)] ÷ (-1)(intrinsic death rate of kittens + (2)(1/age of kitten maturation))

+ Density of feral adult males = [(1/age of kitten maturation)(density of kittens)-(change in density of adult feral males over one generation)] ÷ (intrinsic death rate of feral adult male cats)
+ Density of feral adult females = [(1/age of kitten maturation)(density of kittens)-(change in density of adult feral females over one generation)] ÷ (intrinsic death rate of feral adult female cats)

(Overall density)(306) = number of feral cats overall

For the solitary bee population, I’m using a 2023 article published in the Royal Society:

Growth rate per year = (total estimated number of brood cells for year t+1/total estimated number of brood cells for year t)

Average population growth rate = arithmetic mean of log((total estimated number of brood cells for year t+1/total estimated number of brood cells for year t))

To fill in the gaps of my knowledge to get the most accurate statistics for the solitary bee equation, I plan to interview apian professor Dr. Tim Leslie. For the feral cat equation, I plan to consult available research, as well as interview several NYC feral cat organizations.

These discoveries have truthfully cut my work in half, and now I can spend even more time dissecting the problems with city design that led to the feral cat overpopulation and decline in bee populations. I’ve already written a few opening paragraphs of my whitepaper by now, and I’m making great progress. On Saturday, I will be heading to Dr. Cuonzo’s farm for the first time. I’m looking forward to getting hands-on experience in a rural setting, and to see the different natural influences on agriculture.