Individual based models and approaches in ecology : populations, communities and ecosystems
Individual based models and approaches in ecology : populations, communities and ecosystems By DeAngelis, Donald Lee
1996 | 525 Pages | ISBN: 0412031612 | PDF | 28 MB
1996 | 525 Pages | ISBN: 0412031612 | PDF | 28 MB
Until fairly recently, populations were handled as homogenized averages, which made modelling feasible but which ignored the essential fact that in any population there is a great variety of individuals of different ages, sizes and degrees of fitness. Recently, because of the increased availability of affordable computer power, approaches have been developed which are able to recognize individual differences. Individual-based models are of great use in the areas of aquatic ecology, terrestrial ecology, landscape or physiological ecology, and agriculture. This monograph discusses which biological problems individual-based models can solve, as well as the models' inherent limitations. It explores likely future directions of theoretical development in these models, as well as currently feasible management applications and the best mathematical approaches and computer languages to use. The book also details specific applications to theory and management