MIEA 2018-2019

Sistemas de Informação e Modelação em Ambiente

Environmental Information Systems and Modelling

Room 105, Environment Building

Fridays 09:00-13:00h

This site contains essential information for the SIMA course Ecological Modelling module, lectured by Prof. João Gomes Ferreira

Enrollment and attendance

General notes on assessment

Assessment 1: In general, the modelling work needs substantial improvements for all groups, but particularly Group 3. Presentations varied in quality, but by and large were better than the models shown. More thought should be given to the units in which the models are developed, the choices for parameterisation, and logic associated to conceptualizing and building the model schematics.

Assessment 2: Presentations were better than in the previous assessment. Written work: in general, the reports were less robust than the presentations - broad comments (i.e. not necessarily applicable to all three reports): uninformative abstracts, limitations in original thinking and discussion; several issues in formatting such as missing page numbers, inconsistent presentation of equations and references, unreadable graphs, etc.

Learning objectives

After successful completion of this course, a student will be able to:

1. Understand the principles and applications of ecosystem modelling

2. Develop simple dynamic models and assess data needs for calibration and verification

3. Use various types of ecological models to address real world problems, with a focus on the marine environment

4. Provide management-level awareness of how ecological modelling supports environmental decision-making

Resources

An appropriate modelling platform must be used for coursework. In this course, the recommended package is the Insight Maker web-based modelling software.

Schedule

Modules marked in red are assessment sessions and correspond to student presentations. These presentations should consist of a few Powerpoint slides and Insight Maker models (insights).

2-3 members of each group must have a laptop or tablet with access to the web at class sessions.

Deadlines for assessment:

Assessment 1: Presentation + Model May 10th 2019

Assessment 2a: Presentation + Model June 7th 2019

Assessment 2b: Final document June 14th 2019

Course assessment

The course will be assessed through coursework exercises, course participation, and by two ecological modelling projects, executed in groups of students.

Assessment 1: Develop a primary production model with phytoplankton as a state variable, forced by light and nutrients, running for a yearly period. This will be presented by each group on May 11th using slides and the Insight Maker platform (15 m + 10 m discussion).

Assessment 2 : Extend and adapt the model developed to include bivalves, and use it to simulate aquaculture in an aquatic system. This will be presented by each group on June 7th using slides and the Insight Maker platform (15 m + 10 m discussion). A synthesis report will be developed from the work (combining the models in Assessments 1 and 2) and handed in by email to joao@hoomi.com with a copy to frg@fct.unl.pt by close of business on June 14th 2019 (17.00h).

Report structure for Assessment 2

Report should be typed double-spaced, with figures and tables included in the text, and no annexes. Font Arial 11 or Times New Roman 12.

General layout: Summary in Portuguese and English on the first page, 200 words maximum. Maximum length of the report, including all pages, i.e. summary, text, and references: ten pages. Any extra pages will be discarded (not considered for grading). Any delay in handing in the assignment will be penalized in the final grade.

References: only literature cited in the text will appear in the references section. Each report should contain a minimum of six SCI references, of which three more recent than 2015 (inclusive). The report should contain no more than ten web references.

Key references

Bendoricchio, G., S.E. Jorgensen, 2001. Fundamentals of Ecological Modelling, Third Edition.

Cubillo, A.M., J.G. Ferreira, S.M.C. Robinson, C.M. Pearce, R.A. Corner, and J. Johansen 2016. Role of deposit feeders in integrated multi-trophic aquaculture - a model analysis. Aquaculture,453, 54-66.

Ferreira, J.G., C. Saurel, J.P. Nunes, L. Ramos, J.D. Lencart e Silva, F. Vazquez, Ø. Bergh, W. Dewey, A. Pacheco, M. Pinchot, C. Ventura Soares, N. Taylor, W. Taylor, D. Verner-Jeffreys, J. Baas, J.K. Petersen, J. Wright,V. Calixto, M. Rocha 2013. FORWARD - Framework for Ria Formosa Water Quality, Aquaculture, and Resource Development. Ed. IMAR - Institute of Marine Research. pp. 224. http://goodclam.org

Ferreira, J.G.,Jon Grant, David Verner-Jeffreys, Nick Taylor 2012. Modeling Frameworks for Determination of Carrying Capacity for Aquaculture. Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology, Volume I. Robert A. Meyers, Ed. in Chief. Springer, 2012, 12677 pp.

Ferreira, J.G., J. Aguilar-Manjarrez, C. Bacher, K. Black, S.L. Dong, J. Grant, E.Hofmann, J. Kapetsky, P.S. Leung, R. Pastres, Ø. Strand, C.B. Zhu 2012. Progressing aquaculture through virtual technology and decision making tools for novel management. In FAO/NACA, 2012. Farming the Waters for People and Food. R.P. Subasinghe, J.R. Arthur, D.M. Bartley, S.S. De Silva, M. Halwart, N. Hishamunda, C.V. Mohan & P. Sorgeloos, (Eds.) Proceedings of the Global Conference on Aquaculture 2010, Phuket, Thailand. 22–25 September 2010. FAO, Rome and NACA, Bangkok, p. 643-704.

Ferreira, J.G., Saurel, C., Ferreira, J.M. 2012. Cultivation of gilthead bream in monoculture and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture. Analysis of production and environmental effects by means of the FARM model. Aquaculture, 358–359, p. 23–34.

Ferreira, J.G., S.B. Bricker, T.C. Simas 2007. Application and sensitivity testing of an eutrophication assessment method on coastal systems in the United States and European Union. J. Environmental Management, 82, 433-445.

Saurel, C., J.G. Ferreira, D. Cheney, A. Suhrbier, B. Dewey, J. Davis, J. Cordell 2014. Ecosystem goods and services from Manila clam culture in Puget Sound: a modelling analysis. Aquaculture Environment Interactions, 5, 255-270.