OK, another two pence worth!
I'm not sure I would use the word "uniform" in this context, honestly.
There are, depending on how one chooses to count (lumping or splitting)
somewhere between two and maybe a dozen significantly different
"species" of mathematical models applicable to systems of things,
including ecological systems (in the mathematical sense, not
ecosystems). There are also, of course, subspecies and strains and
lineages and variants beyond counting.
Each model species has unique characteristics and particular differences
and similarities when compared to the others. So each species has
certain correspondences and discordances when compared to the functions,
relationships and parameters of a particular system of
interest--ecological or otherwise.
Other than a focused text or course on "pop" or "ecosys" or "l-scape"
modeling from some author or professor with his/her own axe to grind,
own biases (pro and con), own pet paradigms, and own voids of knowledge,
I'm not sure you're going to find any "how to do" eco-modeling.
Ideally, you could find a good, broad modeling maths course in your
local maths department.
You might be better served by surveying the eco-theoretical literature,
then the microbial (really!) organismal-bio-theoretical lit, then the
general organismal-bio-theoretical lit to see what kinds of models have
been used to deal with problems mathematically similar to what you are
dealing with. Then go to your local maths department and your favorite
publishers for tutorials or texts dealing with the model approaches you
might want to use.
You might also check the user forums for your favorite (or
not-so-favorite) maths software such as Mathematica or MathCad or whatever.
And, of course, when you get down to a small set of focused questions,
you can always post to this forum asking for anyone who is doing similar
work.
In spite of the fact that ecology is a theoretical, integrative,
meta-science, where all of us should be basically clompetent modelers,
the state of practice of eco-modeling beyond simplistic (and wrong)
Lotka-Volterra-like things is somewhat of a nasty business, really, and
(in my obviously not-so-humble opinion) is best approached by stepping
aside to learn the maths first, then returning to the eco-stuff.
Regardz,
Ken
Wayne Tyson wrote:
Bill, what about the principles of ecological modeling; are they uniform across applications?
WT
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Silvert" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 1:04 PM
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] ecologcal modeling
I find this kind of request similar to asking about courses in microscopy. I
really don't think that anyone could construct a course that covered all
different kinds of ecological modelling. You start with a problem and try to
solve it, you don't start with a hammer and look for the right kind of nail.
Bill Silvert
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Claydon" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 3:59 AM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] ecologcal modeling
I was interested if there were any intensive courses on ecological modeling
available during this summer. Country is not an issue.
I would be grateful for any advice.
Thanks
John Claydon
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--
Ken Leonard, Ph.D. Candidate
The University of Georgia
Odum School of Ecology (Bradford Lab)
517 Biological Sciences Bldg.
Athens, GA 30602 US
"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us
with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."
-- Galileo Galilei
[email protected], [email protected]
http://kleonard.myweb.uga.edu/
1+404.307.6425
