Unlocking ensemble ecosystem modelling for large and complex networks

Fuente: arXiv
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Hauptverfasser: Vollert, Sarah A., Drovandi, Christopher, Adams, Matthew P.
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2023
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_version_ 1866913275332001792
author Vollert, Sarah A.
Drovandi, Christopher
Adams, Matthew P.
author_facet Vollert, Sarah A.
Drovandi, Christopher
Adams, Matthew P.
contents The potential effects of conservation actions on threatened species can be predicted using ensemble ecosystem models by forecasting populations with and without intervention. These model ensembles commonly assume stable coexistence of species in the absence of available data. However, existing ensemble-generation methods become computationally inefficient as the size of the ecosystem network increases, preventing larger networks from being studied. We present a novel sequential Monte Carlo sampling approach for ensemble generation that is orders of magnitude faster than existing approaches. We demonstrate that the methods produce equivalent parameter inferences, model predictions, and tightly constrained parameter combinations using a novel sensitivity analysis method. For one case study, we demonstrate a speed-up from 108 days to 6 hours, while maintaining equivalent ensembles. Additionally, we demonstrate how to identify the parameter combinations that strongly drive feasibility and stability, drawing ecological insight from the ensembles. Now, for the first time, larger and more realistic networks can be practically simulated and analysed.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2307_11365
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Unlocking ensemble ecosystem modelling for large and complex networks
Vollert, Sarah A.
Drovandi, Christopher
Adams, Matthew P.
Populations and Evolution
Applications
The potential effects of conservation actions on threatened species can be predicted using ensemble ecosystem models by forecasting populations with and without intervention. These model ensembles commonly assume stable coexistence of species in the absence of available data. However, existing ensemble-generation methods become computationally inefficient as the size of the ecosystem network increases, preventing larger networks from being studied. We present a novel sequential Monte Carlo sampling approach for ensemble generation that is orders of magnitude faster than existing approaches. We demonstrate that the methods produce equivalent parameter inferences, model predictions, and tightly constrained parameter combinations using a novel sensitivity analysis method. For one case study, we demonstrate a speed-up from 108 days to 6 hours, while maintaining equivalent ensembles. Additionally, we demonstrate how to identify the parameter combinations that strongly drive feasibility and stability, drawing ecological insight from the ensembles. Now, for the first time, larger and more realistic networks can be practically simulated and analysed.
title Unlocking ensemble ecosystem modelling for large and complex networks
topic Populations and Evolution
Applications
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2307.11365