@article {4282, title = {The Multiscale Integrated Model of Ecosystem Services (MIMES): Simulating the interactions of coupled human and natural systems}, journal = {Ecosystem Services}, volume = {12}, year = {2015}, month = {04/2015}, pages = {30 - 41}, abstract = {In coupled human and natural systems ecosystem services form the link between ecosystem function and what humans want and need from their surroundings. Interactions between natural and human components are bidirectional and define the dynamics of the total system. Here we describe the MIMES, an analytical framework designed to assess the dynamics associated with ecosystem service function and human activities. MIMES integrate diverse types of knowledge and elucidate how benefits from ecosystem services are gained and lost. In MIMES, users formalize how materials are transformed between natural, human, built, and social capitals. This information is synthesized within a systems model to forecast ecosystem services and human-use dynamics under alternative scenarios. The MIMES requires that multiple ecological and human dynamics be specified, and that outputs may be understood through different temporal and spatial lenses to assess the effects of different actions in the short and long term and at different spatial scales. Here we describe how MIMES methodologies were developed in association with three case studies: a global application, a watershed model, and a marine application. We discuss the advantages and disadvantage of the MIMES approach and compare it to other broadly used ecosystem service assessment tools.}, issn = {22120416}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoser.2015.01.004}, author = {Boumans, Roelof and Roman, Joe and Altman, Irit and Kaufman, Les} } @article {4379, title = {Uncovering land-use dynamics driven by human decision-making {\textendash} A combined model approach using cellular automata and system dynamics}, journal = {Environmental Modelling \& Software}, volume = {27-28}, year = {2012}, month = {Jan-01-2012}, pages = {71 - 82}, issn = {13648152}, doi = {10.1016/j.envsoft.2011.09.005}, url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1364815211002039https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S1364815211002039?httpAccept=text/xmlhttps://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S1364815211002039?httpAccept=text/plain}, author = {Lauf, S. and Haase, D. and Hostert, P. and Lakes, T. and Kleinschmit, B.} } @inbook {1536, title = {Chapter Seven Integrated Modelling Frameworks for Environmental Assessment and Decision Support}, booktitle = {Developments in Integrated Environmental Assessment}, volume = {3}, year = {2008}, pages = {101-118}, publisher = { Elsevier}, organization = { Elsevier}, chapter = {7}, abstract = {

In this chapter we investigate the motivation behind the development of modelling frameworks that explicitly target the environmental domain. Despite many commercial and industrial-strength frameworks being available, we claim that there is a definite niche for environmental-specific frameworks. We first introduce a general definition of what is an environmental integrated modelling framework, leading to an outline of the requirements for a generic software architecture for such frameworks. This identifies the need for a knowledge layer to support the modelling layer and an experimentation layer to support the execution of models.

The chapter then focuses on the themes of knowledge representation, model management and model execution. We advocate that appropriate knowledge representation and management tools can facilitate model integration and linking. We stress that a model development process adhering to industry standards and good practices, called \“model engineering,\” is to be pursued. We focus on the requirements of the experimental frame, which can ensure transparency and traceability in the execution of simulation scenarios and optimisation problems associated with complex integrated assessment studies.

A promising trend for knowledge representation is the use of ontologies that have the capacity to elicit the meaning of knowledge in a manner that is logical, consistent and understandable by computers and the knowledge worker community. This new path in knowledge-based computing will support retention of institutional knowledge, while putting modelling back in the hands of modellers. Environmental modelling will then become a conceptual activity, focusing on model design rather than model implementation, with code generation being delegated to some degree to ontology-aware tools. In this respect, we envision the whole model lifecycle to change drastically, becoming more of a theoretical activity and less of a coding-intensive, highly engineering-oriented task.

}, keywords = {environmental integrated modelling frameworks, knowledge representation, model engineering, model management, modelling frameworks}, isbn = {9780080568867}, doi = {doi:10.1016/S1574-101X(08)00607-8}, author = {A. E. Rizzoli and G. Leavesley and J. C. Ascough II and R. M. Argent and I. N. Athanasiadis and V. Brilhante and F. H. A. Claeys and O. David and M. Donatelli and P. Gijsbers and D. Havlik and A. Kassahun and P. Krause and N. W. T. Quinn and H. Scholten and R. S. Sojda and F. Villa}, editor = {A. J. Jakeman and A. A. Voinov and A. E. Rizzoli and S. H. Chen} } @article {1534, title = {The effect of vegetation on pesticide dissipation from ponded treatment wetlands: Quantification using a simple model}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {72}, year = {2008}, month = {07/2008}, pages = {999-1005}, chapter = {999}, abstract = {

Field data shows that plants accelerate pesticide dissipation from aquatic systems by increasing sedimentation, biofilm contact and photolysis. In this study, a graphical model was constructed and calibrated with site-specific and supplementary data to describe the loss of two pesticides, endosulfan and fluometuron, from a vegetated and a non-vegetated pond. In the model, the major processes responsible for endosulfan dissipation were alkaline hydrolysis and sedimentation, with the former process being reduced by vegetation and the latter enhanced. Fluometuron dissipation resulted primarily from biofilm reaction and photolysis, both of which were increased by vegetation. Here, greater photolysis under vegetation arose from faster sedimentation and increased light penetration, despite shading. Management options for employing constructed wetlands to polish pesticide-contaminated agricultural runoff are discussed. The lack of easily fulfilled sub-models and data describing the effect of aquatic vegetation on water chemistry and sedimentation is also highlighted.

}, keywords = {Cotton, Herbicide, Insecticide, Macrophyte, Phytoremediation, Runoff water}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.04.059}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.04.059}, author = {Michael T. Rose and Angus N. Crossan and Ivan R. Kennedy} } @article {1544, title = {Modelling the impacts of various thinning intensities on tree growth and survival in a mixed species eucalypt forest in central Gippsland, Victoria, Australia}, journal = {Forest Ecology and Management}, volume = {256}, year = {2008}, month = {12/2008}, pages = {2007-2017}, abstract = {

The response of tree survival and diameter growth to thinning treatments was examined over 29 years, in various thinning treatments established in a 21-year-old even-aged mixed species regenerating forest in Victoria, Australia. The treatments were control, crown release, strip thinning and three different intensities of thinning from below (light, moderate, and heavy). Each treatment was replicated three times in a complete randomised design. Logistic and multilevel regression analyses showed that tree survival, growth and thinning response (change of tree growth due to a thinning treatment) were functions of tree species, size, age, removed and remaining competition, as well as time since the treatment. Mean annual tree diameter growth in unthinned stands was highest for Eucalyptus sieberi L. Johnson (1.9\ mm) followed by Eucalyptus baxteri (Benth.) Maiden \& Blakely ex J. Black (1.6\ mm), and lowest for both Eucalyptus consideniana (Maiden) and Eucalyptus radiata (Sieber ex DC) combined (0.7\ mm). Diameter growth increased with tree size for both E. sieberi and E. baxteri, but not for E. consideniana and E. radiata. Smaller trees were more likely to die due to shading and suppression than their larger counterparts. A mortality model suggested, however, that both shading and suppression had very little effect on trees in both E. consideniana and E. radiata species, which were less likely to die compared to trees in the other species. This result indicates that both E. consideniana and E. radiata species may be relatively shade tolerant compared with the other species. Total thinning response was a sum of positive (increased growing space) and negative (thinning stress) effects. Following thinning, smaller trees showed signs of thinning stress for the first one or two years, after which the highest percentage thinning response was observed. While larger trees were initially less responsive to thinning, the rate of decrease in the response for subsequent years was greater in smaller trees than larger ones. The average amount of thinning response showed similar trends to diameter growth increasing from E. sieberi (1.7\ mm) through E. baxteri (0.6\ mm) to both E. consideniana and E. radiata (0.5\ mm). This translates into low average percentage thinning response in E. baxteri (34\%), twice as much in both E. consideniana and E. radiata (69\%) and highest overall percentage response in E. sieberi (87\%). Thinning response and the duration of this response appeared to increase with thinning intensity and was still evident 29 years after thinning. Heavy thinning did, however, reduce the number of trees to a severely under-stocked condition, which prohibited optimum site occupancy, requiring 29 years of post-thinning development for the heavily thinned stands to regain their pre-thinning stand basal area.

}, keywords = {Australia, Diameter distribution, Diameter growth, Thinning intensity, Tree mortality}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2008.07.035 }, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2008.07.035 }, author = {Maina Kariuki} } @article {1539, title = {A box model of carrying capacity for suspended mussel aquaculture in Lagune de la Grande-Entr{\'e}e, Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Qu{\'e}bec }, journal = {Ecological Modelling,}, volume = {200}, year = {2007}, month = {1/2007}, pages = {193-206}, abstract = {

An object-oriented model of environment\–mussel aquaculture interactions and mussel carrying-capacity within Lagune de la Grande-Entr\ée (GEL), Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Qu\ébec, was constructed to assist in development of sustainable mussel culture in this region. A multiple box ecosystem model for GEL tied to the output of a hydrodynamic model was constructed using Simile software, which has inherent ability to represent spatial elements and specify water exchange between modelled regions. Mussel growth and other field data were used for model validation. Plackett\–Burman sensitivity analysis demonstrated that a variety of bioenergetic parameters of zooplankton and phytoplankton submodels were important in model outcomes. Model results demonstrated that mussel aquaculture can be further developed throughout the lagoon. At present culture densities, phytoplankton depletion is minimal, and there is little food limitation of mussel growth. Results indicated that increased stocking density of mussels in the existing farm will lead to decreased mass per individual mussel. Depending on the location of new farm emplacement within the lagoon, implementation of new aquaculture sites either reduced mussel growth in the existing farm due to depletion of phytoplankton, or exhibited minimum negative impact on the existing farm. With development throughout GEL, an excess of phytoplankton was observed during the year in all modelled regions, even at stocking densities as high as 20\ mussels\ m\−3. Although mussels cultured at this density do not substantially impact the ecosystem, their growth is controlled by the flux of phytoplankton food and abundance of zooplankton competitors. This model provides an effective tool to examine expansion of shellfish farming to new areas, balancing culture location and density.

}, keywords = {Aquaculture, Carrying-capacity, Ecosystem model, Magdalen Islands, Mussels}, doi = {doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2006.07.026}, author = {Jon Grant and Kristian J. Curran and Thomas L. Guyondet and Guglielmo Tita and C{\'e}dric Bacher and Vladimir Koutitonsky and Michael Dowd} } @article {4214, title = {The clinical and cost effectiveness of screening for meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)}, year = {2007}, issn = {HTA 9}, url = {http://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org/his/idoc.ashx?docid=4cd58ffa-afdb-45bb-b0d5-22782b3f327d\&version=-1}, author = {Ritchie K and Bradbury I and Craig J and Eastgate J and Foster L and Kohli H and Iqbal K and MacPherson K and McCarthy T and McIntosh H and Nic Lochlainn E and Reid M and Taylor J} }