Dynamic Energy Budget theory meets individual-based modelling: a generic and accessible implementation
Martin, B., Zimmer, E., Grimm, V. and Jager, T. 2012
Dynamic Energy Budget theory meets individual-based modelling: a generic and accessible implementation.
Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 3: 445 - 449
Abstract
- Individual-based models (IBMs) are becoming an increasingly important tool for understanding and predicting population dynamics.
However, in most IBMs physiological processes, which determine the interrelation of assimilation, maintenance, growth, and reproduction, are given little attention relative to ecological and behavioural factors.
Population ecology would be improved by considering these interrelations.
Theories of how physiological processes are interrelated exist but so far are mainly explored at the individual level.
Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) theory seems especially useful for population ecology because it is generic enough to in principle be applied to all species.
To encourage further development and use of DEB theory in a population context we developed a generic IBM that is based on DEB theory.
- For implementation as a computer program, we used NetLogo, a free software platform that is accessible to biologists with little programming background. Because of the generality of the DEB framework, ecologists can adapt this generic model to their species and question of interest with minimal effort.
By choosing species-specific parameters that are available in an internet database, it can easily be used for simple population level analysis or further developed to higher levels of complexity.
Furthermore, the model description following the ODD format and a comprehensive user manual provide a novel and accessible introduction to DEB theory and how it works in a population context.