Damaris Zurell

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  Beyond the proof of concept: virtual ecologists in complex dynamic systems
  Damaris Zurell

  The virtual ecologist is an intuitive and widely used approach which includes simulating artificial species or ecosystem data, an observer that collects data according to a specific sampling protocol, the statistical analysis or modelling of the collected data and subsequent evaluation of the results against known (virtual) truth. In my talk, I will briefly review the concept and existing examples. For example, in global change research this approach holds great potential for rigorous testing of different modelling methods under controlled and changing conditions and with controlled sampling bias. Specifically, I want to emphasize the merit of using complex dynamic simulation models for simulating data and observers. This ingredient takes the virtual ecologist approach beyond simple proof of concept making it a truly integrative and rigorous framework not only for testing sampling protocols or modelling and analysis tools but for theory development and testing more generally.