Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
which are successfully used in ecological models have previously been developed
and applied for other purposes. But the usage and eventual modification can be very
specific in ecology.
This is also reflected in how we organized the contents of this topic. We first
focus on explaining methods and then demonstrate some selected application cases.
Continuous and discrete formalisms, linear, nonlinear, ordinary and partial differ-
ential equations were originally developed in physics but have also been applied
in chemistry, in economics and sociology - and have found prominent use in
ecology. The same is the case for matrix approaches. A recent and highly important
source for inspiration came from computer science, where cellular automata
and in particular the object-orientation paradigm brought important improvements
in systems representation and individual-based modelling. Furthermore, network
approaches that are linking different model types largely grew with developments
in computer application. Still, ecological modelling is not just an application
of approaches that were developed elsewhere. Ecological modelling provides
room for diverse points of views. It is not a unified, canonical discipline with
some procedures legalized and others excluded. It is a space for creativity and
experiments.
We are convinced that the central part of ecological modelling must be founded
on a basic understanding of the underlying ecology and biology - how organisms
grow, how they move, behave, disperse and interact with their environments.
A prerequisite for modelling is always a profound biological knowledge. Only
then we can go to modelling approaches and select, modify and adapt the most
promising techniques. This may at times yield the criticism that the use of the
mathematics is not in strict line with all the formal definitions. We think this is not
necessarily a problem. As long as the applied techniques adequately represent
ecological processes, ecological modelling can be useful, despite this objection.
In this regard we want to encourage a creative handling of such situations.
Therefore, the first priority for ecologists should be not only the reproduction of
established formal recipes, but, more importantly, the use of them as an inspiration
to come up with better, new and improved answers to the large field of remaining
open questions in ecology.
