The Modelling Group
Individual-based ecology
Our aim is to develop the basic scientific understanding of how processes at the
level of individuals drive the dynamics of populations and communities. We work
mainly with the marine habitat, but supplement also with theoretical models.
Methodological philosophy
Our methodological philosophy is to combine explicit physical and biological
mechanisms, operating at the level of individuals, with evolutionary forces to
let patterns and predictions emerge.
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Processes and contraints
acting on individuals
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Emergent traits
and patterns
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Ecological ingredients
A range of physiological and biological mechanisms provide external constraints
on single individuals. At the same time, constraints also arise from within the
organism, from physiology, anatomy, history of experience and individual state.
We model a blend of internal and external mechanisms using mechanistic and
evolutionary models. By scaling up from individuals to populations, we can then
model mechanistically driven forcing on ecological traits and patterns such as
life history, behaviour, communities, and trophic interactions.
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Physical forcing
Light, temperature, turbulence...
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Life history
Behaviour
Growth and
development
Ecosystem structure
Population dynamics
Trophic interactions
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Individual States and constraints |
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Mechanistic and evolutionary models |
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Biological interactions
Predators and prey, movements, information use... |
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Current Research Questions
Below you can follow links to some of the research questions we are working on.
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