Dynamic of Ecosystems

Abstract

It has been discussed in Section 2.3 that ecosystems are inconceivably complex and that it will be impossible to produce a description of ecosystem properties that encompasses all the details. Therefore as discussed in Chapter 3, ecological models will always be very simplified pictures of the real ecosystems and can only impinge on a very limited number of problems or aspects related to the focal ecosystem. An ecological model can only be validated in the right context, and only if it is developed according to a sound ecological knowledge of what is essential to include in the model for the focal ecological problem. In addition, it is crucial, that the models possess the basic (holistic) properties of the system that the model is supposed to imitate.