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Focus on ecological modelling
Ecological Modelling, 4 (1978) 1--2 © Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam --Printed in The Netherlands Editorial FOCUS ON ECOLOGICAL M O D E L L I N G
SVEN ERIK JORGENSEN
Langkaer Vaenge, Vaerlc~se,Copenhagen (Denmark) Editor-in-Chief of Ecological Modelling
The journal "Ecological Modelling" is receiving a stream of good scientifically interesting papers. It has therefore been necessary to expand the number of volumes published per year from one to two. During the period from November 1977 to December 1978 volumes 4 and 5 will be published, and in order to keep the publication lag as small as possible the issues of volume 4 will be published as soon as they are ready. The lake modelling issue has been slightly delayed as we would like to make it as comprehensive as possible, b u t it will be published in December 1977/January 1978 as a double issue (Vol. 4, Nos. 2,3). As pointed o u t in the editorials of the last two volumes, we are attempting to balance the number of papers focusing on different aspects of ecological modelling. However, it has been difficult, as we have received many good and solid papers which contain interesting ideas and development of new m e t h o d o l o g y b u t which do not include the testing, comparison and contrasting of these methodologies with actual field information and experiments. Papers of this sort can be generated very quickly and the whole scientific field can easily be overburdened b y untested methodologies and concepts. It is a laborious task to test and compare models with real field observations but, if we do n o t do so, I believe that ecological modelling will b e c o m e a theoretical, mathematical discipline. We also need new methodologies and concepts b u t at this stage we need to strengthen the ecological aspects. Ecological modelling is a plant with strong roots in "ecological soil", and mathematics must be considered solely as a practical tool. Furthermore, it is the policy of this journal to focus not only on ecological models but also on their practical applicability to environmental management. Consequently, we should like to appeal to authors of papers submitted to the journal to include, if at all possible, information on tests and comparison with actual field observations, and/or the application of the models for management purposes. Up to the present we have been able to balance the papers published in "Ecological Modelling", b u t I feel that it will become increasingly diffi-
cult in the future unless we receive assistance from the authors of the papers to come. However, the special issue on lake modelling will contain many papers which include the testing of models with real field information. Subsequently, I should like to devote a special issue to the subject to "Models for control of the distribution and effects of toxic materials in ecosystems". Contributions to this issue from readers of the journal are invited and should be submitted for consideration in triplicate to the Editorial Office before 15 April 1978. The subject is one of the most important management problems. Excellent work in this field has been carried out (e.g. on mercury and DDT), but it will take a long time before we have a clear general picture of the ecological effects of toxic materials. Legislation for discharge of toxic materials is very often not based on a sound knowledge of the problems, which are so complex that they can be solved only through the application of ecological models. It is my hope that a special issue could contribute to our knowledge of this essential problem.
SVEN ERIK JORGENSEN
Langkaer Vaenge, Vaerlc~se,Copenhagen (Denmark) Editor-in-Chief of Ecological Modelling
The journal "Ecological Modelling" is receiving a stream of good scientifically interesting papers. It has therefore been necessary to expand the number of volumes published per year from one to two. During the period from November 1977 to December 1978 volumes 4 and 5 will be published, and in order to keep the publication lag as small as possible the issues of volume 4 will be published as soon as they are ready. The lake modelling issue has been slightly delayed as we would like to make it as comprehensive as possible, b u t it will be published in December 1977/January 1978 as a double issue (Vol. 4, Nos. 2,3). As pointed o u t in the editorials of the last two volumes, we are attempting to balance the number of papers focusing on different aspects of ecological modelling. However, it has been difficult, as we have received many good and solid papers which contain interesting ideas and development of new m e t h o d o l o g y b u t which do not include the testing, comparison and contrasting of these methodologies with actual field information and experiments. Papers of this sort can be generated very quickly and the whole scientific field can easily be overburdened b y untested methodologies and concepts. It is a laborious task to test and compare models with real field observations but, if we do n o t do so, I believe that ecological modelling will b e c o m e a theoretical, mathematical discipline. We also need new methodologies and concepts b u t at this stage we need to strengthen the ecological aspects. Ecological modelling is a plant with strong roots in "ecological soil", and mathematics must be considered solely as a practical tool. Furthermore, it is the policy of this journal to focus not only on ecological models but also on their practical applicability to environmental management. Consequently, we should like to appeal to authors of papers submitted to the journal to include, if at all possible, information on tests and comparison with actual field observations, and/or the application of the models for management purposes. Up to the present we have been able to balance the papers published in "Ecological Modelling", b u t I feel that it will become increasingly diffi-
cult in the future unless we receive assistance from the authors of the papers to come. However, the special issue on lake modelling will contain many papers which include the testing of models with real field information. Subsequently, I should like to devote a special issue to the subject to "Models for control of the distribution and effects of toxic materials in ecosystems". Contributions to this issue from readers of the journal are invited and should be submitted for consideration in triplicate to the Editorial Office before 15 April 1978. The subject is one of the most important management problems. Excellent work in this field has been carried out (e.g. on mercury and DDT), but it will take a long time before we have a clear general picture of the ecological effects of toxic materials. Legislation for discharge of toxic materials is very often not based on a sound knowledge of the problems, which are so complex that they can be solved only through the application of ecological models. It is my hope that a special issue could contribute to our knowledge of this essential problem.