Cover -- Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Chapter 1. Introduction -- 1.1 Physical and Mathematical Models -- 1.2 Models as a Management Tool -- 1.3 Models as a Scientific Tool -- 1.4 Models and Holism -- 1.5 The Ecosystem as an Object for Research -- 1.6 Outline of the Book -- 1.7 The Development of Ecological and Environmental Models -- 1.8 State of the Art in the Application of Models -- Chapter 2. Concepts of Modelling -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Modelling Elements -- 2.3 The Modelling Procedure -- 2.4 Types of Model -- 2.5 Selection of Model Type -- 2.6 Selection of Model Complexity and Structure -- 2.7 Verification -- 2.8 Sensitivity Analysis -- 2.9 Parameter Estimation -- 2.10 Validation -- 2.11 Ecological Modelling and Quantum Theory -- 2.12 Modelling Constraints -- Problems -- Chapter 3. Ecological Processes -- 3A.1 Space and Time Resolution -- 3A.2 Mass Transport -- 3A.3 Mass Balance -- 3A.4 Energetic Factors -- 3A.5 Settling and Resuspension -- 3B.1 Chemical Reaction ...

This is a thoroughly revised and updated edition of an authoritative introduction to ecological modelling. Sven Erik Jørgensen, Editor-in-Chief of the journal Ecological Modelling, and Giuseppe Bendoricchio, Professor of Environmental Modelling at the University of Padova, Italy, offer compelling insights into the subject. This volume explains the concepts and processes involved in ecological modelling, presents the latest developments in the field and provides readers with the tools to construct their own models. The Third Edition features: . A detailed discussion and step-by-step outline of the modelling procedure. . An account of different model types including overview tables, examples and illustrations. . A comprehensive presentation of the submodels and unit processes used in modelling. . In-depth descriptions of the latest modelling techniques. . Structured exercises at the end of each chapter. . Three mathematical appendices and a subject index. This practical and proven book very effectively combines the theory, methodology and applications of ecological modelling. The new edition is an essential, up-to-date guide to a rapidly growing field.

This book is a completely revised version of the 1986 edition. It is considerably expanded and is accompanied by a diskette with modeling programmes. The work presents a general introduction to the rapidly growing field of ecological and environmental modeling. Its aim is to give on the one hand an overview of the field and on the other to teach the reader to develop his own models. These objectives are met by covering the following points: discussion of the modeling procedure in detail and presentation of the development of models step by step; presentation of most model types by use of theory, overview tables on applications, complexity, examples and illustrations; presentation of both simple and complex models; and a ready available software, that contains several small models the reader can use for training in the elementary steps of modeling. Furthermore, the individual chapters can be read independently, which renders it feasible to tailor the book to any course in ecological and environmental modeling.

The book gives a comprehensive overview of all available types of ecological models. It is the first book of its kind that gives an overview of different model types and will be of interest to all those involved in ecological and environmental modelling and ecological informatics.

Participatory Modelling for Resilient Futures: Action for Managing Our Environment from the Bottom-Up, Volume One provides an important contribution to environmental management by introducing an integrative framework for participatory research for better land use and natural resource planning, organized around compelling recent case studies. It is a valuable guide for the increasing number of students looking for solutions in sustainability science and also practitioners who are on the ground working with local communities to improve specific places. The book was developed in response to the need to provide a clear and synthetic account, in accessible and non-technical language, of the way in which innovative integrative research can help solve real world human-environment interaction problems at a range of levels and scales, e.g., participatory modelling to secure a sustainable future for a natural protected area, working with stakeholders to break the deadlock on renewable energy implementation in Europe or tackling social exclusion and reducing food carbon footprint through local agroecology schemes. Makes modeling approaches accessible so environmental and natural resource managers can make more precise decisions, accounting for a positive and negative impacts of ecosystem changes Provides recent real cases to demonstrate implementation of the concepts, allowing the reader to see how to bridge scientific research and societal needs in order to effectively translate knowledge into action Provides an integrated perspective incorporating science, politics and society, as well as a toolbox of methodologies to enhance participation and engagement of key stakeholders

Ecological modelling has developed rapidly in recent decades, with the focus primarily on the restoration of lakes and wetlands. Ecological Modelling and Engineering in Lakes and Wetlands presents the progress being made in modelling for a wealth of applications. It covers the older biogeochemical models still in use today, structurally dynamic models, 3D models, biophysical models, entire watershed models, and ecotoxicological models, as well as the expansion of modeling to the Arctic and Antarctic climate-zones. The book also addresses modelling the effect of climate change, including the development of ecological models for addressing storm water pond issues, which are increasingly important in urban regions where more concentrated rainfalls are a consequence of climate change. The ecological engineering topics covered in the book also emphasize the advancements being made in applying ecological engineering regimes for better environmental management of lakes and wetlands. - Examines recent progress towards a better understanding of these two important ecosystems - Presents new results and approaches that can be used to develop better models - Discusses how to increase the synergistic effect between ecosystems engineering and modelling

Thermodynamics is used increasingly in ecology to understand the system properties of ecosystems because it is a basic science that describes energy transformation from a holistic view. In the last decade, many contributions to ecosystem theory based on thermodynamics have been published, therefore an important step toward integrating these theories and encouraging a more wide spread use of them is to present them in one volume. An ecosystem consists of interdependent living organisms that are also interdependent with their environment, all of which are involved in a constant transfer of energy and mass within a general state of equilibrium or dis-equilibrium. Thermodynamics can quantify exactly how "organized" or "disorganized" a system is - an extremely useful to know when trying to understand how a dynamic ecosystem is behaving. A part of the Environmental and Ecological (Math) Modeling series, Thermodynamics and Ecology is a book-length study - the first of its kind - of the current thinking on how an ecosystem can be explained and predicted in terms of its thermodynamical behavior. After the introductory chapters on the fundamentals of thermodynamics, the book explains how thermodynamic theory can be specifically applied to the "measurement" of an ecosystem, including the assessment of its state of entropy and enthalpy. Additionally, it will show economists how to put these theories to use when trying to quantify the movement of goods and services through another type of complex living system - a human society.

It is estimated that roughly 1000 new ecological and environmental models join the ranks of the scientific literature each year. The international peer-reviewed literature reports some 20,000 new models spanning the period from 1970-2010. Just to keep abreast of the field it is necessary to design a handbook of models that doesn't merely list them,

Ecology is cross-disciplinary field involving many different aspects of science. Written with this in mind, this book introduces ecological processes, ranging from physical processes, to chemical processes and biological processes. It contains all the necessary information on an ecological process: a clear, detailed but not too lengthy definition,

Ecological Model Types brings an understanding on how to quantitatively analyze complex and dynamic ecosystems with the tools available today. Ecosystem studies widely use the notions of order, complexity, randomness, and organization, and are used interchangeably in literature, which causes much confusion. Better models synthesize our knowledge on ecosystems and their environmental problems, in contrast to statistical analysis, which only reveal the relationships between the data. This book brings together experts on ecological models to create a definitive work on how to understand our complex Earth. - Bridges the gap between statistical analysis and synthesis of data, enhancing our understanding about ecosystems and their environmental problems - Helps readers understand complex ecosystems by walking through the best modeling options to analyze and predict environmental effects - Provides a detailed review of 14 model types, covering the breadth of options available for analysis at this time