ABSTRACT
A model is a simplification of a real system that is used to provide some insights into the system. Population models are often (although not always) formulated as a set of rules or assumptions, expressed as mathematical equations, that describe change in population size over time as a consequence of survival and reproduction, and they include external factors that affect these characteristics. A model simplifies a system, retaining essential components while eliminating parts that are not of interest. Ecology has a rich history of using models to gain insights into populations, often borrowing both model structures and analysis methods from demographers and engineers. Much of the development of the models has been a consequence of mathematicians and physicists seeing simple analogies between their models and patterns in natural systems. Consequently, one major application of ecological modeling has been to emphasize the analysis of dynamics of often complex models to provide insights into theoretical aspects of ecology.
