TY - JOUR
T1 - Do simple models lead to generality in ecology?
AU - Evans, Matthew R.
AU - Grimm, Volker
AU - Johst, Karin
AU - Knuuttila, Tarja
AU - de Langhe, Rogier
AU - Lessells, Catherine M.
AU - Merz, Martina
AU - O'Malley, Maureen A.
AU - Orzack, Steve H.
AU - Weisberg, Michael
AU - Wilkinson, Darren J.
AU - Wolkenhauer, Olaf
AU - Benton, Tim G.
PY - 2013/10
Y1 - 2013/10
N2 - Modellers of biological, ecological, and environmental systems cannot take for granted the maxim 'simple means general means good'. We argue here that viewing simple models as the main way to achieve generality may be an obstacle to the progress of ecological research. We show how complex models can be both desirable and general, and how simple and complex models can be linked together to produce broad-scale and predictive understanding of biological systems.
AB - Modellers of biological, ecological, and environmental systems cannot take for granted the maxim 'simple means general means good'. We argue here that viewing simple models as the main way to achieve generality may be an obstacle to the progress of ecological research. We show how complex models can be both desirable and general, and how simple and complex models can be linked together to produce broad-scale and predictive understanding of biological systems.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84884351044&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.tree.2013.05.022
DO - 10.1016/j.tree.2013.05.022
M3 - Review article
SN - 0169-5347
VL - 28
SP - 578
EP - 583
JO - Trends in Ecology and Evolution
JF - Trends in Ecology and Evolution
IS - 10
ER -