Alternative stable states exist in many important ecosystems, and gradual change of the environment can lead to dramatic regime shift in these systems (Beisner et.al. (2003), May (1977), Klausmeier (1999), Rietkerk et.al. (2004), and Scheffer et.al. (2001)). Examples have been observed in the desertification of Sahara region, shift in Caribbean coral reefs, and the shallow lake eutrophication (...

Alternative stable states exist in many important ecosystems, and gradual change of the environment can lead to dramatic regime shift in these systems [BHC, M, RDRK, SCF]. Examples have been observed in the desertification of Sahara region, shift in Caribbean coral reefs, and the shallow lake eutrophication [CLB, SC, SCF]. It is well-known that a socialeconomical system is sustainable if the li...

Although ARTMAP and ART-based models were introduced in early 70’s they were not used in characterizing and classifying ecological observations. ART-based models have been extensively used for classification models based on satellite imagery. This report, to our knowledge, is the first application of ART-based methods and specifically ARTMAP for predicting habitat selection and spatial distribu...

The aim of this article is to set out a generic methodological framework for combining aggregated and individual level data for ecological inference and to illustrate some of the benefits and difficulties by simulations and on a case

Being simplified representations of reality, simulation models can never be perfect and their results are always somewhat uncertain. That is why quantification of model uncertainty is important during interpretation of simulation results in decision making process. Uncertainty describes deviations of simulated ecosystem’s characteristics from known or observed values. Several sources contribute...

The ecological literature reveals considerable confusion about the meaning of validation in the context of simulation models. The confusion arises as much from semantic and philosophical considerations as from the selection of validation procedures. Validation is not a procedure for testing scientific theory or for certifying the ‘truth’ of current scientific understanding, nor is it a required...

This paper reports on preliminary research using genetic programming (GP) to model the spatial distribution of an endangered Australian marsupial, the southern brown bandicoot(Isoodon obesulus). GP is compared in this work with classical decision tree learning. The models built by GP are surprisingly robust, generalising signiicantly better than those built by decision trees.

This set of lectures aims to provide an introduction to fitting and inference with population dynamic models. The basic motivation is that often we know enough about a biological system to formulate models describing how we think it works, but not quite enough to pin down the precise numerical values of all the parameters (or in some cases functions) that it contains. In this circumstance it’s ...

This paper concerns hypothesis testing and confirmation in evolutionary and ecological theory. I outline specific criteria used in evaluating evidence for theories, and demonstrate the use of each criterion through examples from various branches of evolutionary biology and ecology. The philosophical discussions in Roughgarden (1983), Strong (1983), Simberloff (1983), and Quinn and Dunham (1983)...

the study of karst phenomena and its potentials has had always a particular importance in semi-arid zones of iran, specifically due to the lack of water sources. in this paper, we are going to discuss the landscape morphology in karstic areas, and the way we can have an ecological planning approach to it. maharlu karst basin was selected as the case study of karstic area, and kaftarak mount in ...