An ecosystem model is an abstract, usually mathematical, representation of an ecological system (ranging in scale from an individual population, to an ecological community, or even an entire biome), which is studied to gain understanding of the real system. [2] Using data gathered from the field, ecological relationships — such as the relation of sunlight and water availability to photosynthetic rate, or that between predator and prey populations — are derived, and these are combined to form ecosystem models. These model systems are then studied in order to make predictions about the dynamics of the real system. Often, the study of inaccuracies in the model (when compared to empirical observations) will lead to the generation of hypotheses about possible ecological relations that are not yet known or well understood. Models enable researchers to simulate large-scale experiments that would be too costly or unethical to perform on a real ecosystem. They also enable the simulation of ecological processes over very long periods of time (i.e. simulating a process that takes centuries in reality, can be done in a matter of minutes in a computer model). [3] Ecosystem models have applications in a wide variety of disciplines, such as natural resource management, [4] ecotoxicology andenvironmental health, [5] [6] agriculture, [7] and wildlife conservation. [8] It has also been applied to archaeology with varying degrees of success, through attempts to combine ecological models and archaeological models to explain mobility, diversity, etc. of stone tools
Anecosystem modelis anabstract, usuallymathematical,
representation of anecological system(ranging in scale from an
individualpopulation, to anecological community, or even an
entirebiome), which is studied to gain understanding of the real
system.[2]Using data gathered from the field, ecological
relationships such as the relation of sunlight and water
availability to photosynthetic rate, or that between predator and
prey populations are derived, and these are combined to form
ecosystem models. These model systems are then studied in order to
make predictions about the dynamics of the real system. Often, the
study of inaccuracies in the model (when compared to empirical
observations) will lead to the generation of hypotheses about
possible ecological relations that are not yet known or well
understood. Models enable researchers to simulate large-scale
experiments that would be too costly or unethical to perform on a
real ecosystem. They also enable the simulation of ecological
processes over very long periods of time (i.e. simulating a process
that takes centuries in reality, can be done in a matter of minutes
in a computer model).[3]Ecosystem models have applications in a
wide variety of disciplines, such asnatural
resourcemanagement,[4]ecotoxicologyandenvironmental
health,[5][6]agriculture,[7]andwildlife conservation.[8]It has also
been applied to archaeology with varying degrees of success,
through attempts to combine ecological models and archaeological
models to explain mobility, diversity, etc. of stone tools
