ALMaSS, an agent-based model for animals in temperate European landscapes
Authored by Christopher J Topping, JU Jepsen, P Odderskaer
Date Published: 2003-09-01
DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3800(03)00173-x
Sponsors:
Centre for Strategic Studies in Cultural Environment, Nature and Landscape History
Platforms:
C++
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
Flow charts
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
The animal, landscape and man simulation system (ALMaSS) was designed as a predictive tool for answering policy questions regarding the effect of changing landscape structure or management on key animal species in the Danish landscape. By combining agent-based models of animals with a comprehensive and dynamic landscape simulation, it aims to improve predictive ability. The landscape model comprises detailed mapping, weather, farm management, and vegetation growth. Each vegetated area has its own growth model and in the case of farmed areas, management is modelled in detail. Animal models are agent-based, designed using the state/transition concept, and are rule-based. Each animal may interact with others and directly with its local environment. Field vole (Microtus agrestis) is used as an example of the extent to which dynamic landscapes can influence the population dynamics. Simulations of crop diversity and rotation demonstrate significant effects of spatial and temporal heterogeneity on population sizes, population fluctuations and landscape permeability. These two factors interact and thus different responses to temporal factors occur at different levels of spatial heterogeneity. Spatial and temporal heterogeneity in both the model and the real world are often related to changes in land-use and management. Consequently, the impact of landscape changes on any population can be enormous and heavily spatially influenced. Therefore, the use of dynamic landscapes is seen as an important addition to the modeller's toolkit. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Tags
Dynamic landscape
Individual-based model
farm and crop management simulation
field vole
matrix permeability
Simulation
behavior
Dynamics
ecology
Populations
Consequences
Southern sweden
Individual-based approach
Voles microtus-agrestis
Field voles