MEPS 347:301-306 (2007)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps06987

ABSTRACT: Reflection on 5 yr of deliberations of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Working Group on Modelling Physical–Biological Interactions and the discussions at the workshop on ‘Future Directions in Modelling Physical–Biological Interactions’ has led to 3 broad themes concerning future work in the field. Firstly, model validation, the rigorous assessment of the level of confidence in the model predictions, is crucial for any model that will be used for practical applications. Secondly, determining the level of model complexity required to capture the essential features of the problem being addressed is an open problem. Finally, all the problems are multidisciplinary and there is a need for more integration of physics, chemistry and biology, on the one hand, and observationalists, experimentalists and modellers, on the other. The process of model validation provides a framework for connecting these themes.

KEY WORDS:Physical–biological interactions · Validation · Complexity · Integration