Qualitative models of population dynamics

Samenvatting

Conceptual models are important means for ecologists towards ecological theory development. Qualitative reasoning can be used to represent and simulate conceptual models. Such models represent knowledge about structure, causality, active processes, and the qualitatively distinct behaviours of the system. This thesis discusses the development and evaluation of a qualitative model in the field of population ecology, and includes the following aspects. A review of the literature identifying the important principles underlying populations and communities in nature. A design and implementation of a qualitative model formalising these principles following the structured approach to modelling developed in the NaturNet-Redime project. A model test and model evaluation by (1) running simulations with the model in different scenarios, (2) comparing the model to a competing approach referred to as the R-star model, and (3) an expert review using two domain experts.