Sequential boundary eigenvalue destabilisation (SeBEDes): An expert method for parameter screening and estimation in complex ecosystem models. (April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cropp, Roger; Moroz, Irene; Norbury, John
• Is Part Of: Environmental modelling & software. Volume 90(2017)
• Page Start: 167
• Page End: 181
• Publication Date: 2017-04
• Subjects: SeBEDes -- Boundary eigenvalue -- Parameter estimation -- Parameter search; Environmental monitoring -- Computer programs -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Computer simulation -- Periodicals; Digital computer simulation -- Periodicals; Computer software -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Computer Simulation -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Logiciels -- Périodiques; Écologie -- Simulation, Méthodes de -- Périodiques; Simulation par ordinateur -- Périodiques; Logiciels -- Périodiques; Computer software; Digital computer simulation; Ecology -- Computer simulation; Environmental monitoring -- Computer programs; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.70015118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2017.01.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-8152

Abstract

Abstract: We present a new method to find parameter sets that allow all populations to co-exist in multi-trophic level food web models in which the outcome of competition between populations at each trophic level is determined by R* theory. The method involves sequentially destabilising an eigenvalue at the boundary equilibrium point of the winning population at each trophic level. We illustrate the procedure on a six population, three trophic level ecosystem model of a pelagic Antarctic ecosystem. We used the method to find an initial parameter set for which all populations coexisted. Only three model evaluations were required to find a parameter set that allowed coexistence. In contrast, a random search of parameter space required an average of 250 model evaluations to find each coexistence parameter set. The method is useful for identifying regions of parameter space that have high densities of coexistence solutions.