A Practical Guide to Ecological Modelling: Using R as a Simulation Platform

✍ Scribed by Karline Soetaert, Peter M.J. Herman (auth.), Karline Soetaert, Peter M.J. Herman (eds.)

• Publisher: Springer Netherlands
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 375
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Many texts on ecological models jump to describing either particular relations or computational results, without treating in detail the conceptual and mathematical basis of many steps in modelling: why set up models, what are basic conceptual models, how do conservation laws come in, how are models solved, what are steady states. This book is intended to bridge this gap. It is intended as an introductory text for graduate and post-graduate students, but also as a help for experienced ecologists who want to make more of their data by modelling. It contains many examples, all worked out in the open-source package R, providing the reader the opportunity to practice all methods and get hands-on experience.

Audience:
This book will be of interest to advanced undergraduate and graduate students in ecology, biology, geology, bio-engineering, and to some extent students from physics and chemistry.

✦ Table of Contents

Front Matter....Pages I-XV
Introduction....Pages 1-13
Model Formulation....Pages 15-69
Spatial Components and Transport....Pages 71-115
Parameterization....Pages 117-138
Model Solution – Analytical Methods....Pages 139-164
Model Solution –Numerical Methods....Pages 165-209
Stability and Steady-State....Pages 211-256
Multiple Time Scales and Equilibrium Processes....Pages 257-272
Discrete Time Models....Pages 273-293
Dynamic Programming....Pages 295-307
Testing and Validating the Model....Pages 309-327
Further Reading and References....Pages 329-333
Back Matter....Pages 335-372

✦ Subjects

Ecology; Simulation and Modeling; Environmental Monitoring/Analysis; Biogeosciences