Best practice in Ecopath with Ecosim food-web models for ecosystem-based management. [In: Special Edition: Ecopath 30 years - Modelling ecosystem dynamics: beyond boundaries with EwE]
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Date
2016Author
Heymans, Johanna J
Coll, Marta
Link, Jason S
Mackinson, Steven
Steenbeek, Jeroen
Walters, Carl
Christensen, Villy
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Show full item recordAbstract
Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) models are easier to construct and use compared to most other ecosystem
modelling techniques and are therefore more widely used by more scientists and managers. This, how-
ever, creates a problem with quality assurance; to address this we provide an overview of best practices
for creating Ecopath models. We describe the diagnostics that can be used to check for thermodynamic
and ecological principles, and highlight principles that should be used for balancing a model. We then
highlight the pitfalls when comparing Ecopath models using Ecological Network Analysis indices. For
dynamic simulations in Ecosim we show the state of the art in calibrating the model by fitting it to time series using a formal fitting procedure and statistical goodness of fit. Finally, we show how Monte Carlo simulations can be used to address uncertainty in input parameters, and we discuss the use of models in a management context, specifically using the concept of ‘key runs’ for ecos.....
Journal
Ecological ModellingVolume
331Page Range
pp.173-184Document Language
enSustainable Development Goals (SDG)
14.1.114.2.1
14.4.1
14.5.1
14.6.1
14.7.1
2.3.1
2.3.2
2.c.1
3.9.2
3.9.3
6.3.2
6.6.1
8.2.1
8.3.1
8.4.1
9.3.1
12.2.1
12.3.1
12.4.1
15.2.1
15.1.2
Essential Ocean Variables (EOV)
oxygennutrients
inorganic carbon
transient tracers
stable carbon isotopes
fish abundance and distribution
marine turtles, birds, mammals abundance and distribution
Maturity Level
TRL 9 Actual system "mission proven" through successful mission operations (ground or space)Best Practice Type
Best PracticeDOI Original
10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2015.12.007Citation
Heymans, J.J.; Coll, M.; Link, J.S.; Mackinson, S.; Steenbeek, J.; Walters,C. and Christensen. V. (2016) Best practice in Ecopath with Ecosim food-web models for ecosystem-based management. In: Ecopath 30 years - Modelling ecosystem dynamics: beyond boundaries with EwE. Ecological Modelling, 331, pp.173-84. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2015.12.007Collections
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