MadingleyR: An R package for mechanistic ecosystem modelling

Aim Mechanistic general ecosystem models are used to explore fundamental ecological dynamics and assess possible consequences of anthropogenic natural disturbances on ecosystems. The Madingley model is a mechanistic (GEM) that simulates coherent global ecosystem, consisting photo-autotrophic heterotrophic life, based processes. C++ implementation the delivers fast computational performance, but it (a) limits userbase researchers familiar with intricacies programming, (b) has limited possibility change settings provide outputs required address specific research questions, (c) reproducibility simulation experiments. aim this paper present an R package aid increasing accessibility flexibility model. Innovation MadingleyR streamlines installation procedure supports all major operating systems. enables users combine multiple consecutive simulations, making case study modifications objects along way. Default input files available from study-specific inputs can be easily loaded environment. also provides functions plot summarize outputs. We comprehensive description workflow. demonstrate applicability using three studies: simulating cascading effects loss mega-herbivores food-web structure, impacts increased land-use intensity total biomass different feeding guilds by restricting vegetation for intensive scenario continental scale. Main conclusions direct simulations flexible in its application without performance.