Syllabus

Fish 501: Ecosystem Modeling with Ecopath with Ecosim

Credit Value

3 credits

Course Instructor

Villy Christensen with assistance from Santiago de la Puente, Marta Coll, and Leigh McGaughey

Contact

Feel free to contact Villy Christensen at v.christensen@oceans.ubc.ca. Santiago de la Puente at s.delapuente@oceans.ubc.ca, and Marta Coll and Leigh McGaughey through emails provided to participants.

A private Slack channel is used for communication between participants (official and unofficial). Participants are not required to use Slack, but encouraged.

Structure

A combination of lectures, discussions, demonstrations, hands-on and tutorials. Most Tuesdays are used for theory, introductions, hands-on and tutorials, while most Thursdays are for guest lectures and discussions.

Schedule

Term 2, January 12 – April 13 (12 weeks of classes, no classes during reading week)

Lectures & tutorials: Tuesday & Thursdays 9:00 – 11:00 am. Online via Zoom (and on FaceBook Live).

Office hours (for registered students): Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays 13.00-14.00, online via Zoom. Villy and Santiago will as a rule both be present. We may use breakout rooms as needed.

Description

The course is focused on how the Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE, www.ecopath.org) modelling framework can be used to address scientific questions related to food web modelling, and notably how to address questions as part of Ecosystem Based Management. The underlying theories will be introduced throughout, exemplified through a series of guest lectures, and followed by hands-on with actual implementation. There is a considerable amount of required reading that course participants will take turns to led discussions about.

Learning outcomes and objectives

• Introduce theoretical aspects of ecosystem modelling

• Provide basic knowledge of ecosystem modelling (with focus on EwE) and its use for ecosystem based management

• Provide an introduction to the various modules of EwE and how they are used

Topics

The course will cover a series of topics:

· Modelling strategy

· Data requirements and availability

· Extracting data from online databases, notably FishBase

· Parameters and mass-balance

· (Network analysis and ecosystem indicators)

· Economic and social aspects: the value chain from producer to consumer

· Time-dynamic modeling

o The foraging arena

o Fitting ecosystem models to time series data

· Modeling environmental impacts and mediation

o Environmental Impact Assessments

· Uncertainty

o Monte Carlo approaches

o Management Strategy Evaluation

· Introduction to spatial modeling

· Spatial modelling with habitat capacity/species distribution models

· Spatial optimizations/zoning

Software

EwE is a free, open source program, and it (still) requires Microsoft Windows as operating system. On Macs it is necessary to use a virtualization software and to install Windows (any more recent version is fine). There are several virtualization software packages that can be used, including open source ones (i.e. free versions). Oracle's free VirtualBox works fine. Please try to sort this out before the course., or discuss with Villy Christensen, who will also entertain other questions.

Readings

There is no textbook for the course. Readings are journal articles available through UBC (or through the instructor). See the course website. All lectures will be available in electronic form.

Expectations and grading

There will be 3-4 assignments during the course, each required to take up to 4 hours to complete

There is no mid-term, final assignment or exam.

Credit students: Expected to read assigned publications before classes, study lectures and tutorials before classes, participate actively in classes, and to hand in all assignments timely. Only students taking the course for credit will be graded.

Grading is based on,

• 1. Participation 30%

  2. Discussions 30%

  3. Assignments 40%

Grades for late assignments are reduced with 5% per day unless prior arrangements has been made with the instructor

Auditors (official and unofficial): Expected to read assigned publications before classes, study lectures and tutorials before classes,. You are welcome to hand in assignments, we will comment on those, time allowing.

Further information

See the course website, accessible through Canvas and the IOF Course listing.

Support

UBC provides resources to support student learning and to maintain healthy lifestyles but recognizes that sometimes crises arise and so there are additional resources to access including those for survivors of sexual violence. UBC values respect for the person and ideas of all members of the academic community. Harassment and discrimination are not tolerated nor is suppression of academic freedom. UBC provides appropriate accommodation for students with disabilities and for religious, spiritual and cultural observances. UBC values academic honesty and students are expected to acknowledge the ideas generated by others and to uphold the highest academic standards in all of their actions. Details of the policies and how to access support are available here.