Ecological modeling :

Includes bibliographical references (p. [131]-132) and index.

PrefaceAcknowledgments1 Introduction1.1 Common Sense Solutions: Three Exercises1.2 Modeling Theory1.3 Modeling Practice1.4 Theory, Practice, and Common Sense1.5 Intended Use of this Book2 Common Sense Solutions2.1 Three Problems2.1.1 Harvesting Food for the Winter2.1.2 Estimating the Probability of Population Extinction2.1.3 Managing the Commons2.2 The Systems Approach to Problem Solving2.2.1 The Conceptual Model (Phase I)2.2.2 The Quantitative Model (Phase II)2.2.3 Model Evaluation (Phase IIII)2.2.4 Model Application (Phase IV)2.3 The Three Problems Revisited: The Systems Approach2.3.1 Diagrams (Preliminary Conceptual Model: CM) / The Conceptual Model (I)2.3.2 Quantify, Calculate-Check (Intermediate Developmental Models: IDMi) / The Quantitative Model (II)-Model Evaluation (III)2.3.3 Project Scenarios (Final Model: FM) / Model Application (IV)3 Theory I: The Conceptual Model3.1 State the Model Objectives (Ia)3.2 Bound the System-of-Interest (Ib)3.3 Categorize the Components within the System-of-Interest (Ic)3.3.1 State Variables3.3.2 Material Transfers3.3.3 Sources and Sinks3.3.4 Information Transfers3.3.5 Driving Variables3.3.6 Constants3.3.7 Auxiliary Variables3.4 Identify the Relationships among the Components That Are of Interest (Id)3.4.1 Submodels3.5 Represent the Conceptual Model (Ie)3.5.1 Conceptual-Model Diagrams3.6 Describe the Expected Patterns of Model Behavior (If)4 Theory II: The Quantitative Model4.1 Select the General Quantitative Structure for the Model (IIa)4.2 Choose the Basic Time Unit for the Simulations (IIb) 4.3 Identify the Functional Forms of the Model Equations (IIc)4.3.1 Information on Which to Base the Choice of Functional Forms4.3.2 Selecting Types of Equations to Represent the Chosen Functional Forms4.4 Estimate the Parameters of the Model Equations (IId)4.4.1 Statistical Analyses within the Context of Simulation Model Parameterization4.4.2 Quantifying Qualitative Information 4.4.3 Deterministic- versus Stochastic-Model Parameterization4.5 Execute the Baseline Simulation (IIe)4.5.1 Baseline Simulations for Stochastic Models5 Theory III: Model Evaluation5.1 Assess the Reasonableness of the Model Structure and the Interpretability of Functional Relationships within the Model (IIIa)5.2 Evaluate the Correspondence between Model Behavior and the Expected Patterns of Model Behavior (IIIb)5.3 Examine the Correspondence between Model Projections and the Data from the Real System (IIIc)5.3.1 Quantitative versus Qualitative Model Evaluation5.4 Determine the Sensitivity of Model Projections to Changes in the Values of Important Parameters (IIId)5.4.1 Interpreting Sensitivity Analysis within a Model Evaluation Framework6 Theory IV: Model Application6.1 Develop and Execute the Experimental Design for the Simulations (IVa)6.2 Analyze and Interpret the Simulation Results (IVb)6.3 Communicate the Simulation Results (IVc)7 Some Common Pitfalls7.1 Phase I: Pitfalls: The Conceptual Model7.2 Phase II Pitfalls: The Quantitative Model7.3.