ALBERT

Description / Table of Contents: Contents: PART 1.MODELING ; Chapter 1. Introduction ; 1.1 Why Individual-based Modeling and Ecology? ; 1.2 Linking Individual Traits and System Complexity: Three Examples ; 1.3 Individual-based Ecology ; 1.4 Early IBMs and Their Research Programs ; 1.5 What Makes a Model an IBM? ; 1.6 Status and Challenges of the Individual-based Approach ; 1.7 Conclusions and Outlook ; Chapter 2. A Primer to Modeling ; 2.1 Introduction ; 2.2 Heuristics for Modeling ; 2.3 The Modeling Cycle ; 2.4 Summary and Discussion ; Chapter 3. Pattern-oriented Modeling ; 3.1 Introduction ; 3.2 Why Patterns, and What Are Patterns? ; 3.3 The Tasks of Pattern-oriented Modeling ; 3.4 Discussion ; PART 2.INDIVIDUAL-BASED ECOLOGY ; Chapter 4. Theory in Individual-based Ecology ; 4.1 Introduction ; 4.2 Basis for Theory in IBE ; 4.3 Goals of IBE Theory ; 4.4 Theory Structure ; 4.5 Theory Development Cycle ; 4.6 Example: Development of Habitat Selection Theory for Trout ; 4.7 Summary and Discussion ; Chapter 5. A Conceptual Framework for Designing Individual-based Models ; 5.1 Introduction ; 5.2 Emergence ; 5.3 Adaptive Traits and Behavior ; 5.4 Fitness ; 5.5 Prediction ; 5.6 Interaction , 5.7 Sensing , 5.8 Stochasticity ; 5.9 Collectives ; 5.10 Scheduling ; 5.11 Observation ; 5.12 Summary and Conclusions , 5.13 Conceptual Design Checklist ; 9Chapter 6. Examples ; 6.1 Introduction ; 6.2 Group and Social Behavior ; 6.3 Population Dynamics of Social Animals ; 6.4 Movement: Dispersal and Habitat Selection , 6.5 Regulation of Hypothetical Populations ; 6.6 Comparison with Classical Models ; 6.7 Dynamics of Plant Populations and Communities ; 6.8 Structure of Communities and Ecosystems ; 6.9 Artificially Evolved Traits ; 6.10 Summary and Conclusions ; PART 3.THE ENGINE ROOM ; Chapter 7. Formulating Individual-based Models ; 7.1 Introduction ; 7.2 Contents of an IBM Formulation ; 7.3 Formulating an IBM's Spatial Elements ; 7.4 Formulating Logical and Probabilistic Rules ; 7.5 Formulating Adaptive Traits ; 7.6 Controlling Uncertainty ; 7.7 Using Object-oriented Design and Description ; 7.8 Using Mechanistic and Discrete Mathematics ; 7.9 Designing Superindividuals ; 7.10 Summary and Conclusions ; Chapter 8. Software for Individual-based Models ; 8.1 Introduction ; 8.2 The Importance of Software Design for IBMs ; 8.3 Software Terminology and Concepts ; 8.4 Software Platforms ; 8.5 Software Testing ; 8.6 Moving Software Development Forward ; 8.7 Important Implementation Techniques ; 8.8 Some Favorite Software Myths ; 8.9 Summary and Conclusions ; Chapter 9. Analyzing Individual-based Models ; 9.1 Introduction ; 9.2 Steps in Analyzing an IBM ; 9.3 General Strategies for Analyzing IBMs ; 9.4 Techniques for Analyzing IBMs ; 9.5 Statistical Analysis ; 9.6 Sensitivity and Uncertainty Analysis ; 9.7 Robustness Analysis ; 9.8 Parameterization ; 9.9 Independent Predictions ; 9.10 Summary and Conclusions ; Chapter 10. Communicating Individual-based Models and Research ; 10.1 Introduction ; 10.2 Types of IBE Work to Communicate ; 10.3 Complete and Efficient Model Description ; 10.4 Common Review Comments ; 10.5 Visual Communication of Executable Models ; 10.6 Communicating Software ; 10.7 Summary and Conclusions ; PART 4.CONCLUSIONS AND OUTLOOK ; Chapter 11. Using Analytical Models in Individual-based Ecology ; 11.1 Introduction ; 11.2 Classifications of Ecological Models ; 11.3 Benefits of Analytical Models ; 11.4 Analytical Approximation of IBMs ; 11.5 Using Analytical Models to Understand and Analyze IBMs ; 11.6 Summary and Discussion ; Chapter 12. Conclusions and Outlook for Individual-based Ecology ; 12.1 Introduction ; 12.2 Why Do We Need IBE? ; 12.3 How Is IBE Different From Traditional Ecology? ; 12.4 What Can Ecology Contribute to the Science of Complex Systems? ; 12.5 A Visit to the Individual-based Ecology Laboratory