11
Effective Use of Ecological
Modeling in Management:
The Toolkit Concept
Steven M. Bartell
211
11.1 Introduction
The incorporation of ecological and environmental models into the process
of environmental management may be facilitated through the development
of a “toolkit.” Such a toolkit would identify existing ecological and environmental models relevant to environmental management and provide for
the effective and efficient implementation of these models in a management
decision-making framework. In this discussion, ecological models refer to
those constructs that explicitly describe the dynamics of individual organisms, populations, communities, or ecosystems. Environmental models
describe the spatial or temporal dynamics of physical, chemical, and other
habitat features, but might not directly consider biological or ecological
properties or their dynamics. For example, models that describe the transport and distribution of chemicals in air, soils, sediments, or surface waters
without addressing bioaccumulation would be environmental models but
not necessarily ecological models. Clearly, both categories of models can
contribute importantly to environmental management.
This chapter briefly outlines alternative structures of an ecological
modeling toolkit in support of environmental management and decision
making. The toolkit is considered from the perspective of “model makers”
and “model users.” Issues important to both communities are highlighted.
The chapter tabulates several examples of modeling approaches that have
proven useful in environmental management. Finally, conclusions and recommendations are made concerning the development of an environmental
manager’s modeling toolkit.
11.2 The Toolkit Concept
Alternative concepts for an environmental modeling toolkit may describe
a continuum between simple collections or organized libraries of models to
highly interactive, dynamic, and self-designing systems (Figure 11.1). One
Effective Use of Ecological
Modeling in Management:
The Toolkit Concept
Steven M. Bartell
211
11.1 Introduction
The incorporation of ecological and environmental models into the process
of environmental management may be facilitated through the development
of a “toolkit.” Such a toolkit would identify existing ecological and environmental models relevant to environmental management and provide for
the effective and efficient implementation of these models in a management
decision-making framework. In this discussion, ecological models refer to
those constructs that explicitly describe the dynamics of individual organisms, populations, communities, or ecosystems. Environmental models
describe the spatial or temporal dynamics of physical, chemical, and other
habitat features, but might not directly consider biological or ecological
properties or their dynamics. For example, models that describe the transport and distribution of chemicals in air, soils, sediments, or surface waters
without addressing bioaccumulation would be environmental models but
not necessarily ecological models. Clearly, both categories of models can
contribute importantly to environmental management.
This chapter briefly outlines alternative structures of an ecological
modeling toolkit in support of environmental management and decision
making. The toolkit is considered from the perspective of “model makers”
and “model users.” Issues important to both communities are highlighted.
The chapter tabulates several examples of modeling approaches that have
proven useful in environmental management. Finally, conclusions and recommendations are made concerning the development of an environmental
manager’s modeling toolkit.
11.2 The Toolkit Concept
Alternative concepts for an environmental modeling toolkit may describe
a continuum between simple collections or organized libraries of models to
highly interactive, dynamic, and self-designing systems (Figure 11.1). One