SPEAR Training Programme

Visual Ecological Modelling (VEM)

Location and date

Third Institute of Oceanography, Xiamen, 16th March 2006, 9.00-12.00

Summary

This course is a primer on the use of visual simulation packages such as Powersim or Stella for the development of ecological models. We will review the various components of a model:

  1. Scope in time and space, initial conditions and boundary conditions;
  2. Forcing functions, processes, state variables and parameters.

The trainees (in groups of 3-4 depending on numbers and facilities) will implement very simple models on the computer as case studies to illustrate these points. If time allows, there will be a brief overview of calibration and validation.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the three-hour course, the trainees are expected to be able to:

  1. Identify the basic elements of a model, and in particular those of an ecological model;
  2. Understand how to conceptualise a simple model in terms of forcing funtions, state variables and the linkages between them;
  3. Work with the visual modelling software to set up and run a simple model (i.e. translate a simple differential equation into a finite difference model);
  4. Examine and interpret the results of such models using tables, time graphs and phase-space diagrams.

Lecturers

Joao G. Ferreira

Chen Ye

Course programme

The course is divided into four sections, shown in the table below. Push = material from lecturers to trainees; Mixed = Interactive training; Pull = material from trainees to lecturers.

Time

Type

Topic

Detail

9.00-9.30

Push

Introduction to ecological modelling

Slides providing a general overview of ecological modeling and visual modeling tools, followed by details of the course activities

9.30-10.00

Mixed

Powersim tutorial

Elements for Powersim model construction and output viewing, bank interest rate example

10.00-11.00

Pull

Exercises

1.      Nutrient flow to phytoplankton biomass using Michaelis-Menten implementation;

2.      Phytoplankton biomass from light-driven primary production using Steele’s equation.

11.00-12.00

Push

Case studies

Farm-scale model for food supply at different farm sections, food depletion due to shellfish growth;

Population dynamics model showing distribution of individuals in weight classes;

Model coupling, demonstrating potential integration with ShellSim2006.

 

Course materials

Document list in reverse chronological order - Click (or right-click) to download

File name Type Date
TUTORIAL and other models Compressed (zipped) Folder 9 of March 2006
FARM Compressed (zipped) Folder 9 of March 2006
VEM Adobe Acrobat Document 7 of March 2006
VEM materials Adobe Acrobat Document 7 of March 2006
BANK Microsoft Excel Worksheet 27 of February 2006

 

Site developed by: IMAR-GEM - Institute for Marine Research - March 2006