Applications of Search in Biology: Some Open Problems

The theory of search and rendezvous can be applied to answer real world problems which are both interesting and of practical importance. Here I provide a personal account of where existing theories may need modification in order to tackle the uncomfortable complexities of biology, and argue that in many cases these modifications are tractable. Finally, three open problems in the application of search theory to biological systems are presented: how should a fish swim; how do plant roots exploit patchy nutrients; and why do animals form groups?