Modelling Complex Ecological Dynamics

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvii

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2. Introduction

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

      PDF

   2. Backgrounds and Scope of Ecological Modelling: Between Intellectual Adventure and Scientific Routine

      • Broder Breckling, Fred Jopp, Hauke Reuter

      Pages 3-12

   3. What Are the General Conditions Under Which Ecological Models Can be Applied?

      • Felix Müller, Broder Breckling, Fred Jopp, Hauke Reuter

      Pages 13-28

   4. Historical Background of Ecological Modelling and Its Importance for Modern Ecology

      • Broder Breckling, Fred Jopp, Hauke Reuter

      Pages 29-40

3. Modelling Techniques and Approaches

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 41-41

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   2. System Analysis and Context Assessment

      • Broder Breckling, Fred Jopp, Hauke Reuter

      Pages 43-54

   3. Steady State Models of Ecological Systems: EcoPath Approach to Mass-Balanced System Descriptions

      • Matthias Wolff, Marc Taylor

      Pages 55-66

   4. Ordinary Differential Equations

      • Broder Breckling, Fred Jopp, Hauke Reuter

      Pages 67-91

   5. Partial Differential Equations

      • Michael Sieber, Horst Malchow

      Pages 93-103

   6. Cellular Automata in Ecological Modelling

      • Broder Breckling, Guy Pe’er, Yiannis G. Matsinos

      Pages 105-117

   7. Leslie Matrices

      • Dagmar Söndgerath

      Pages 119-132

   8. Modelling Ecological Processes with Fuzzy Logic Approaches

      • Agnese Marchini

      Pages 133-145

   9. Grammar-Based Models and Fractals

      • Winfried Kurth, Dirk Lanwert

      Pages 147-161

   10. Individual-Based Models

       • Hauke Reuter, Broder Breckling, Fred Jopp

       Pages 163-178

   11. Modelling Species’ Distributions

       • Carsten F. Dormann

       Pages 179-196

   12. Decision Trees in Ecological Modelling

       • Marko Debeljak, Sašo Džeroski

       Pages 197-209

4. Application Fields, Case Studies and Examples

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 211-213

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   2. Neutral Models and the Analysis of Landscape Structure

      • Robert H. Gardner

      Pages 215-229

   3. Stage-Structured Integro-Differential Models: Application to Invasion Ecology

      • Aurélie Garnier, Jane Lecomte

      Pages 231-240

Model development is of vital importance for understanding and management of ecological processes. Identifying the complex relationships between ecological patterns and processes is a crucial task. Ecological modelling—both qualitatively and quantitatively—plays a vital role in analysing ecological phenomena and for ecological theory. This textbook provides a unique overview of modelling approaches. Representing the state-of-the-art in modern ecology, it shows how to construct and work with various different model types. It introduces the background of each approach and its application in ecology. Differential equations, matrix approaches, individual-based models and many other relevant modelling techniques are explained and demonstrated with their use. The authors provide links to software tools and course materials. With chapters written by leading specialists, “Modelling Complex Ecological Dynamics” is an essential contribution to expand the qualification of students, teachers and scientists alike.

• ABM
• Agent-based Models
• Cellular Automata
• Cellular Automaton
• Complex
• Complexity
• Data Mining
• Dynamical
• Dynamics
• Ecological
• Ecology
• Expert-Systems
• Fuzzy Logic
• Geo-Ecology
• Habitat Suitability Models
• IBM
• Individual-based Model
• Invasion Models
• Landscape Ecology
• Landscape Management
• Learning how to model
• Leslie-Matrices
• Model Coupling
• Model Validation
• Modeling
• Modeling Concepts
• Modeling in Ecology
• Modelling
• Modelling Concepts
• Modelling in Ecology
• Nature Conservation
• ODE
• Ordinary-Differential Equations
• PDE
• Partial-Differential Equations
• Sensitivity Analysis
• Space in Ecology
• Spatially-Explicit
• Steady-State models
• Tree-Decisions Models
• Variabilities
• Variability
• Variables

From the reviews:

“This book is an edited collection of short chapters describing the variety and uses of mathematical models. Chapter authors … present a diversity of perspectives on modeling. … it is an overview of the purposes and types of models. … more valuable for those already familiar with one type of modeling who want to develop a broader understanding of ecological models. Summing Up … . Graduate students, researchers/faculty, and professionals.” (M. P. Gustafson, Choice, Vol. 49 (6), February, 2012)

“Comprehensive knowledge in ecological modelling is thus essential in modern ecology and the edited textbook ‘Modelling Complex Ecological Dynamics’ (MCED) provides an excellent overview on the development and the state-of-the-art in this wide scientific field that goes far beyond classic or simple method application. … a must read for graduate students, teachers and scientists in ecology.” (Rainer Waldhardt, Basic and Applied Ecology, Vol. 13 (5), August, 2012)

• Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, USA

  Fred Jopp

• , Ökologische Modellierung, Leibniz-Zentrum für Marine Tropenökologi, Bremen, Germany

  Hauke Reuter

• AG Allgemeine und Theoretische Ökologie, Universität Bremen, Bremen, Germany

  Broder Breckling

Editors: Fred Jopp (University of Miami, USA) Hauke Reuter (Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology, Bremen, Germany) Broder Breckling (University of Bremen, Germany) Authors: Esther M. Borell (The Interuniversity Institute (IUI) for Marine Sciences, Eilat, Israel) Broder Breckling (University of Bremen, Germany) Donald L DeAngelis (University of Miami, USA) Marko Debeljak (Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia) Carsten F. Dormann (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany) Saso Dzeroski (Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia) Alejandro Gallego (Marine Scotland, Aberdeen, UK) Robert H. Gardner (University of Maryland, Frostburg, USA) Aurélie Garnier (Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Nantes, France) Fred Jopp (University of Miami, USA) Sven Erik Jørgensen (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) Dietmar Kraft (University of Oldenburg, Germany) Andreas Kubicek (Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology, Bremen, Germany) Winfried Kurth (University of Göttingen, Germany) Christoph Lange (Fraunhofer MEVIS, Bremen, Germany) Dirk Lanwert (University of Göttingen, Germany) Jane Lecomte (Université Paris-Sud 11, France) Horst Malchow (University of Osnabrück, Germany) Agnese Marchini (University of Pavia, Italy) Yiannis G Matsinos (University of the Aegean, Grecce) Felix Müller (University of Kiel, Germany) Søren Nors Nielsen (Copenhagen, Denmark) Guy Pe'er (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germny) Hauke Reuter (Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology, Bremen, Germany) Michael Sieber (University of Osnabrück, Germany) Dagmar Söndgerath (TU Braunschweig, Germany) Marc Taylor (Alfred Wegener Institute, Bremerhaven, Germany) Joel C. Trexler (Florida International University, Miami, USA) Gerd Weigmann (FU Berlin, Germany) Matthias Wolff (Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology, Bremen, Germany)

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