[Swarm-Modelling] Two new papers

[Steve Railsback]

I am pleased to announce the appearance today of this paper:

Grimm, V., E. Revilla, U. Berger, F. Jeltsch, W. M. Mooij, S. F. 
Railsback, H.-H. Thulke, J. Weiner, T. Wiegand, and D. L. DeAngelis. 
2005. Pattern-oriented modeling of agent-based complex systems: lessons 
from ecology. Science 310:987-991.

In it, we review the use of observed patterns for three purposes in 
agent-based modeling: (a) designing a model so it is complex enough but 
not too complex; (b) testing theories for agent traits that explain 
system phenomena; and (c) parameterization. (I discussed some of these 
ideas at SwarmFest 2003.)

Also appearing today is another review paper:

DeAngelis, D. L., and W. M. Mooij. 2005. Individual-based modeling of 
ecological and evolutionary processes. Annual Review of Ecology, 
Evolution, and Systematics 36:147-168.

Its abstract:

Individual-based models (IBMs) allow the explicit inclusion of 
individual variation in greater detail than do classical 
differential-equation and difference-equation models. Inclusion of such 
variation is important for continued progress in ecological and 
evolutionary theory. We provide a conceptual basis for IBMs by 
de-scribing five major types of individual variation in IBMs: spatial, 
ontogenetic, pheno-typic, cognitive, and genetic. IBMs are now used in 
almost all subfields of ecology and evolutionary biology. We map those 
subfields and look more closely at selected key papers on fish 
recruitment, forest dynamics, sympatric speciation, metapopulation
dynamics, maintenance of diversity, and species conservation. Theorists
are currently divided on whether IBMs represent only a practical tool 
for extending classical theory to more complex situations, or whether 
individual-based theory represents a radically new research program. We 
feel that the tension between these two poles of thinking
can be a source of creativity in ecology and evolutionary theory.


Steve Railsback
--
Lang Railsback & Assoc.
250 California Ave.
Arcata, California 95521
(707) 822-0453