Book Description

"The author is very clearly experienced in developing models, with a focus on the fields of ecotoxicology and wetland ecosystems...[and] uses formulations that are easily understood."

AUSTRAL ECOLOGY Vol. 36, e41, November 2011

“It is both timely and appropriate that Jørgensen has produced a new, up-to-date introduction to this field. Compressing the discussion of a field that has grown so much into 180 pages of text is a challenge. Nonetheless, Jørgensen, who is pioneer in ecological modeling and a prolific author of models, has done a remarkable job of providing a solid introduction suitable at the advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate levels.”

THE QUARTERLY REVIEW OF BIOLOGY Vol. 85, No. 4, December 2010

Ecological Modelling: an Introduction is a textbook tailored for the last year of a bachelor study or the first year of a master study. Ecological Modelling is a very powerful tool in environmental management and ecological research and a course in ecological modelling ought therefore to be compulsory for all studies focusing on environmental management, environmental sciences and ecology. Ecological modelling requires both an introduction to the basic theory and practical computer exercises in the development of models. To facilitate the exercises, the book presents several illustrations, where an ecological modelling problem or task is presented and the solution is then given in detail. Several exercises are presented after each chapter, but the best exercises are of course that the students develop their own models focusing on problems that they have formulated and have particular interest to solve. The basic theory of ecological modelling is covered by the first seven chapters of the textbook, including ‘how to go modelling’ and an overview of the various model types applicable in ecological modelling. The following five chapters present details about the development and application of the five most applied model types in ecological modelling: bio-geo-chemical models, population dynamic models, ecotoxicological models, spatial models and structurally dynamic models. For all five types, detailed and illustrative examples are presented. The examples are chosen to give the readers sufficient information to facilitate the development of their own model of the same type.

Title and Contents pages

Book Contents