7. Epilogue
The models of growth and form discussed in Chap. 4 are defined at various
levels of abstraction. The highest level of abstraction occurs in the twodimensional L-system models and iterative geometric constructions of the
seaweeds. The lowest level of abstraction occurs in the three-dimensional
models of accretive growth and the influence of the physical environment
and the model of fluid transport in the gastrovascular system of a hydrozoan.
The Laplacian model represents an intermediate between the two extremes .
Which type of modeling is selected depends strongly upon the type of questions to be answered. Growth models of individual organisms might be
applied in studies on individual-based population dynamics (see Uchmanski et al. 1999), where it is not necessary to include all biological details.
In simulation models applied to study bioarchives (see the examples of the
Antarctic sponges in Sect. 6.1, coral records in Sect. 6.2, and biomonitoring
studies, for example shown in Sect. 5.2, where changes in the growth forms
due to perturbation experiments are compared to simulated results), a model
of the influence of the physical environment is required. In simulation models where the genetic regulation of the growth is included, probably even
lower levels of abstraction are required and it will be necessary to descend
further in the range of possible biological organizational levels (ecosystem,
population, organism, module, cell, organelles, complexes, molecules) and
to include gradients of morphogens, internal transport mechanisms, models
of the physiology of the organisms and biomechanical details.
From the overview on the state of the art of modeling growth and form
of marine sessile organisms which we have presented in this book, it might
become clear that many parts of this field of research are still in a state of
development. Only recently have computational techniques become available
which are capable of simulating the influence of the physical environment on
the growth process of sessile organisms. Knowledgeof developmental biology
has increased greatly during the last decade, although it might become clear
that one of the final aims of the simulation models, to bridge the gap between
the genetic information and the final shape of the organism, is still a highly
ambitious goal. The list of items which are still needed to achieve this goal, or
items which are still in a preliminary state is very large, but also demonstrates
that this field is a rich and promising field of research. A list of items which
currently seem to be urgent, and not arranged in order of importance since
such a ranking is in itself is controversial, is presented below.
TRANSLOCATION OF NUTRIENTS. In the available literature (see also
Sect. 2.2-4) there has been a quite extensive discussion on the relevance of
J. A. Kaandorp et al., The Algorithmic Beauty of Seaweeds, Sponges and Corals
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2001
The models of growth and form discussed in Chap. 4 are defined at various
levels of abstraction. The highest level of abstraction occurs in the twodimensional L-system models and iterative geometric constructions of the
seaweeds. The lowest level of abstraction occurs in the three-dimensional
models of accretive growth and the influence of the physical environment
and the model of fluid transport in the gastrovascular system of a hydrozoan.
The Laplacian model represents an intermediate between the two extremes .
Which type of modeling is selected depends strongly upon the type of questions to be answered. Growth models of individual organisms might be
applied in studies on individual-based population dynamics (see Uchmanski et al. 1999), where it is not necessary to include all biological details.
In simulation models applied to study bioarchives (see the examples of the
Antarctic sponges in Sect. 6.1, coral records in Sect. 6.2, and biomonitoring
studies, for example shown in Sect. 5.2, where changes in the growth forms
due to perturbation experiments are compared to simulated results), a model
of the influence of the physical environment is required. In simulation models where the genetic regulation of the growth is included, probably even
lower levels of abstraction are required and it will be necessary to descend
further in the range of possible biological organizational levels (ecosystem,
population, organism, module, cell, organelles, complexes, molecules) and
to include gradients of morphogens, internal transport mechanisms, models
of the physiology of the organisms and biomechanical details.
From the overview on the state of the art of modeling growth and form
of marine sessile organisms which we have presented in this book, it might
become clear that many parts of this field of research are still in a state of
development. Only recently have computational techniques become available
which are capable of simulating the influence of the physical environment on
the growth process of sessile organisms. Knowledgeof developmental biology
has increased greatly during the last decade, although it might become clear
that one of the final aims of the simulation models, to bridge the gap between
the genetic information and the final shape of the organism, is still a highly
ambitious goal. The list of items which are still needed to achieve this goal, or
items which are still in a preliminary state is very large, but also demonstrates
that this field is a rich and promising field of research. A list of items which
currently seem to be urgent, and not arranged in order of importance since
such a ranking is in itself is controversial, is presented below.
TRANSLOCATION OF NUTRIENTS. In the available literature (see also
Sect. 2.2-4) there has been a quite extensive discussion on the relevance of
J. A. Kaandorp et al., The Algorithmic Beauty of Seaweeds, Sponges and Corals
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2001