More Ecosystem Simulation Models

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Sep 7, 2001

Having turned our attention to the environmental sciences, we've embarked on a trek to find out how simulation techniques can aid in the study of ecosystem dynamics. Last week, we examined some models typically employed to study systems of various social settings. This time around, we'll continue by looking at models more specifically geared toward ecosystem simulation. Three models, in particular, fit nicely into the experiences of the modern human : logistic growth, competition, and net production.

A logistic growth model is used to describe a population that has virtually unlimited resources available to it, allowing it to grow at will, but which is also subject to self-imposed limitations, such as self-interactions and crowding. A great example of this in reality is the modern American city. As jobs and money became abundant in cities across the nation, people flocked to them and settled in to raise families. As a result, the populations swelled, to the point that we were/are stepping on each others feet every time we turned around. This, in turn, led to crime and disenchantment. We can see the results today, as more and more Americans are heading for the suburbs, leaving their cities with zero-or-worse population growth.

Competition, of course, is a staple of American corporate life today, but at its simplest, it refers to the existence of two populations "feeding" on the same resources. A ready example of competition is the relatively young tech market. The same resources (consumers) are available to virtually all of the companies vying for market share, but a certain players are emerging as the dominant forces. This tends to happen in nearly any ecosystem, with one species relying on its special qualities to snatch a stronghold on the resources, leaving the others to fight for scraps.

Linked closely to competition is net production. Simply, net production is the difference between total gross production of a resource and the consumption of that same resource. As we are seeing with the PC market these days, net production can have powerful ramifications on the inhabitants of an ecosystem. In this case, since many, if not most, folks already have their computer, a lot of machines are just sitting on a shelf. This has forced companies to re-evaluate their business practices. A particular business model has emerged as the clear cut victor in this case, while those who relied on a different formula are now moving in other directions or disbanding completely. As in nature, the American business ecosystem can be a hostile environment.

For more on these and other ecosystem models, visit

http://www.unicamp.br/fea/ortega/java

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The copyright of the article More Ecosystem Simulation Models in Scientific Computing is owned by Adam Hughes. Permission to republish More Ecosystem Simulation Models in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.