Ecological Modelling

Wolfgang Pittroff, University of California, Davis, California, USA
Ellen K Pedersen, Colorado State University, Gunnison, Colorado, USA

Published online: May 2005

DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0003270

Ecological modelling is the use of systems analysis and simulation to mimic complex ecological systems by summarizing available relevant information. The process includes the development of conceptual and quantitative models, and the evaluation and use of the model to answer the specific questions for which the model was built.

Keywords: systems analysis; ecological modelling; simulation

Figure 1. Comparison of different methods to solve problems, depending on the relative level of understanding of and the relative amount of data available for the system (from Grant et al. 1997, modified from Starfield and Bleloch 1991).
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 References
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 Further Reading
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    Qureshi ME, Harrison SR and Wegener MK (1999) Validation of multicriteria analysis models. Agricultural Systems 62: 105–116.
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    book Shannon RE (1975) Systems Simulation: The Art and the Science Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
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    Wu GW and Wilson LT (1998) Parameterization, verification and validation of a physiologically complex age-structured rice simulation model. Agricultural Systems 56: 483–511.

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Ecological Methods
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Article Title: Ecological Modelling
 
How to Cite close
Pittroff, Wolfgang, and Pedersen, Ellen K(May 2005) Ecological Modelling. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1038/npg.els.0003270]