This course introduces students to systems approaches for analysing ecological and agro-ecosystems through quantitative simulation models. Students learn to formulate and specify dynamic models, evaluate model performance using statistical methods and inverse modelling, and simulate spatial processes using partial differential equations. Topics include population and nutrient dynamics, dispersal, vegetation patterning, and model calibration. Programming is done in Visual Grind and MATLAB. Case studies integrate modelling, parameter estimation, and scenario analysis. The course is suitable for students in biology, plant sciences, agro-ecology, and related fields, with concepts applicable across scientific disciplines.
