As others have noted, there are many kinds of modeling. I haven't heard much mention of simulation modeling in the other posts. In terms of simulation modeling, a colleague recommended the following two to me (in terms of books for an introductory ecological modeling course):
* Grant, W. E. and T. M. Swannack. 2008. Ecological Modeling: A Common-Sense Approach to Theory and Practice. Blackwell, Malden. * Ford, A. 2009. Modeling the Environment (second edition). Island Press. Mark Dixon -----Original Message----- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of James E Diffendorfer Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2011 10:23 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Book on Ecological Modeling Adding to Patricks suggestions. For beginners on matrix models: Plant and Animal Populations: Methods in Demography, Ebert, Thomas A. 1999. Academic Press, San Diego, California, xiii 312 p. It takes you from drawing life cycle diagrams to full blown matrix based modelling. It was designed for folks with little to no background and has worked for a number of students/folks I know. Start here if you are new to matrix models and move to Caswell if needed. Also consider software. Depending on how you learn, playing around with models might be the most effective method. We used Populus and Popgen (population genetics) when I was in grad. school. I know of Ecobeaker and RAMAS and I'm sure gobs more exist. Good look!. Jay Diffendorfer From: "Foley, Patrick" <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Date: 08/09/2011 06:26 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Book on Ecological Modeling Sent by: "Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news" <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Marc Mangel 2006. The Theoretical Biologist's Toolbox John Harte 1988. Consider a Spherical Cow Ilkka Hanski 1999. Metapopulation Ecology Gurney & Nisbet 1998. Ecological Dynamics Hal Caswell 1989. Matrix Population Models -- The first edition is more readable than the second Leah Edelstein-Keshet 1988. Mathematical Models in Biology You don't have to read them all, but all of them are worth reading. And make sure to read something by G E Hutchinson, Robert MacArthur, Michael Rosenzweig and Robert May. Patrick Foley bees, fleas, flowers, disease [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> ________________________________________ From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bryan Dewsbury [[email protected]] Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 5:47 PM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Book on Ecological Modeling Can anyone suggest a good book on Ecological Modeling for someone just getting started? (Graduate Student) Bryan Dewsbury PhD candidate Florida International University Miami, Fl 305 348 1556
