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• The model development based on the unrealistic assumption that eco-
logical systems maintain rigid structures, and on fixed and incomplete
parameters
• Weak quality data sets available for model development and especially
for parameter estimation
In most cases, the structural and functional diversity of ecological systems
has been neglected and human society only recently has started to be
identified and modeled as a dominant component of the socio-ecological
complexes
In order to overcome the above constraints, different research initiatives have been
launched in the last decade for development and improvement of ecological modeling
concepts and techniques:
i. Identification of ecological systems, both components of NC and SES by
specific and dynamic structural and functional models (dynamic homo-
morph models), which preserve their specific dynamic properties at the
most appropriate spatio-temporal dimensions (see Section 2.3).
Such structural dynamic models integrate: the network of major components in
the structure of HGMUs and troposphere; the network of trophodynamic modules
describing the spatio-temporal organization of biocoenoses or the network of mod-
ules in the economic subsystem; the patterns for inner mass, energy, and information
transfer and the boundary conditions or the pathways of the so-called “metabolism”
of SES as shown in Figure 2.4.
To each structural dynamic model used for the identification of a particular
category of ecological system there must be a set of external driving forces, a set
of structural and functional parameters, and the corresponding sets of state variables.
ii. In order to improve the knowledge and data quality concerning the structural
and functional dynamics of ecological systems, the development of the con-
ceptual framework and methodology to assess the NC and SES has started.
The diversity of ecological structure at the national and macroregional scale,
is viewed as the networks of different types of ecological systems (especially
belonging to the hierarchical level of microlandscapes or seascapes). This
includes components of socio-economic systems where long term ecological
research and integrated monitoring programs are carried out.
The land/seascapes and corresponding lagoon systems are, or should
be, represented in such networks. In this respect, the current NATO-CCMS
pilot study is a very promising starting point as demonstrated in the
following chapters.
iii. Development and improvement of mathematical modeling techniques in
order to cope with: (a) poor databases, (b) specific decision making and
management issues, and (c) to take the complexity, adaptability and structural
and functional dynamics of the ecological systems into account (Figure 2.12) .
a. To manage the constraints linked to poor databases in the case of many
specific ecological systems or specific environmental issues, both
“fuzzy models” and modeling techniques based on chaos and fractal
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