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Introduction to the modelling of marine ecosystems
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 336 (2006) 263 www.elsevier.com/locate/jembe
Book review W. Fennel, T. Neumann, Introduction to the modelling of marine ecosystems, Elsevier Oceanography Series, vol. 72, ISBN: 0-444-51704-9 ((paperback), GBP 48, US $ 81.95, Eur 69, 297 pp.) Ecosystem modelling and the potential for an ecosystem approach to marine resource management have been rapidly developing in recent years. As a result, a good and comprehensive introduction to ecosystem modelling that is accessible to scientists with only limited experience in mathematical modelling is undoubtedly an attractive proposition. Whilst this is the stated aim of the volume, unfortunately it will fall short for some audiences. The authors themselves have backgrounds in physics and, perhaps as a result, the volume is less penetrable to biologists. Many of the concepts are described largely in equation form, and many equations are presented with little detailed explanation. This approach may be preferred by physicists or mathematicians who are used to thinking in equations, but is likely to intimidate and put off many biologists, and so may not provide the “introduction” expected. Nevertheless, it does have the benefit that the reader has to come to terms with thinking in equations quickly, which is an ultimate requirement in this field, and the equations provided are comprehensive. The authors state, quite reasonably, that it is not possible or desirable to consider all parts of the food web in one model, and as a result they do not introduce them all in this volume. What the volume does cover is the ecosystem from the physical and chemical environment up to the grazing zooplankton. What this volume does not cover are simple energy budget models, interactions with or between higher trophic levels (i.e. those above grazing zooplankton), individual-based models, and methods of model parameter estimation.
doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2006.05.007
The volume begins by introducing relatively simple biomass models. Subsequent chapters then slowly increase the complexity of the models to include aspects such as phytoplankton succession, nitrogen cycles, staged life cycles of copepods, and more detailed models of the physical environment. The later chapters then bring these aspects together and describe complex models applied to the Baltic Sea. In some respects, scientists new to ecosystem modelling may find it easier to start with these later chapters, as they explain why the detailed mathematical models presented in the previous chapters are ultimately required. Some sections are better written than others, with the chapter on physical biological interactions being comprehensive and better written than sections on, for example, fisheries or recruitment processes. Attractive aspects of this volume are the comprehensive introduction to the complexity of ecosystem modelling, the cd-rom of worked Matlab examples (Matlab itself is not included), and the clear demonstration of the way in which the models can be used to investigate hypotheses about ecosystem structure. Unfortunately, the quality of the written English does occasionally let the volume down, and in places the text has to be re-read to understand the meaning, and occasionally the meaning remains obscure. Although this improves after the introduction, the volume would benefit from some revision. Matthew Dunn National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd. (NIWA) PO, Box 14-901, Kilbirnie, Wellington, New Zealand E-mail address: [email protected].
Book review W. Fennel, T. Neumann, Introduction to the modelling of marine ecosystems, Elsevier Oceanography Series, vol. 72, ISBN: 0-444-51704-9 ((paperback), GBP 48, US $ 81.95, Eur 69, 297 pp.) Ecosystem modelling and the potential for an ecosystem approach to marine resource management have been rapidly developing in recent years. As a result, a good and comprehensive introduction to ecosystem modelling that is accessible to scientists with only limited experience in mathematical modelling is undoubtedly an attractive proposition. Whilst this is the stated aim of the volume, unfortunately it will fall short for some audiences. The authors themselves have backgrounds in physics and, perhaps as a result, the volume is less penetrable to biologists. Many of the concepts are described largely in equation form, and many equations are presented with little detailed explanation. This approach may be preferred by physicists or mathematicians who are used to thinking in equations, but is likely to intimidate and put off many biologists, and so may not provide the “introduction” expected. Nevertheless, it does have the benefit that the reader has to come to terms with thinking in equations quickly, which is an ultimate requirement in this field, and the equations provided are comprehensive. The authors state, quite reasonably, that it is not possible or desirable to consider all parts of the food web in one model, and as a result they do not introduce them all in this volume. What the volume does cover is the ecosystem from the physical and chemical environment up to the grazing zooplankton. What this volume does not cover are simple energy budget models, interactions with or between higher trophic levels (i.e. those above grazing zooplankton), individual-based models, and methods of model parameter estimation.
doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2006.05.007
The volume begins by introducing relatively simple biomass models. Subsequent chapters then slowly increase the complexity of the models to include aspects such as phytoplankton succession, nitrogen cycles, staged life cycles of copepods, and more detailed models of the physical environment. The later chapters then bring these aspects together and describe complex models applied to the Baltic Sea. In some respects, scientists new to ecosystem modelling may find it easier to start with these later chapters, as they explain why the detailed mathematical models presented in the previous chapters are ultimately required. Some sections are better written than others, with the chapter on physical biological interactions being comprehensive and better written than sections on, for example, fisheries or recruitment processes. Attractive aspects of this volume are the comprehensive introduction to the complexity of ecosystem modelling, the cd-rom of worked Matlab examples (Matlab itself is not included), and the clear demonstration of the way in which the models can be used to investigate hypotheses about ecosystem structure. Unfortunately, the quality of the written English does occasionally let the volume down, and in places the text has to be re-read to understand the meaning, and occasionally the meaning remains obscure. Although this improves after the introduction, the volume would benefit from some revision. Matthew Dunn National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd. (NIWA) PO, Box 14-901, Kilbirnie, Wellington, New Zealand E-mail address: [email protected].