"Unveiling Ecological Dynamics through the Integration of Higher-Order Interactions (HOIs) and Individual-Based Models (IBMs)"Van Giel, ThomasEcological systems exhibit intricate dynamics influenced by a myriad of factors, including complex species interactions and individual behaviors. Traditional ecological research often focusses on pairwise interactions between species on a community level. Higher-order interactions (HOIs) are interactions that go beyond pairwise, and including these in ecological models can make them more realistic. Individual-Based Models (IBMs) look at the behaviour of individuals of the species in order to obtain data about the ecosystem as a whole. They provide a microscopic perspective, emphasizing the unique behaviors of individual organisms. This presentation delves into combining Higher-Order Interactions (HOIs) and Individual-Based Models (IBMs) to unravel the complexity found in natural environments. By integrating these two modeling frameworks, our study aims to bridge the gap between macroscopic ecological patterns and the underlying micro-scale processes. We build a model using ecological theories and insights and use the tools from the field to analyse the effects on the ecosystem of the HOIs in an IBM setting. Some of the affected properties of the system that would be analysed are stability, invasion threshold, tipping points, ... The proposed combination of methods holds promise for advancing our understanding of ecological phenomena, providing a comprehensive tool for researchers to navigate the intricate web of interactions in natural settings. |
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