Ecosystem Modelling

Fish 501

Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries

The University of British Columbia

Term 3, Summer Semester 2026

Syllabus & Welcome

OCF elective categories

The course is included in two elective categories for OCF students:

"Ecological, Biological, Economic & Social Studies”
"Ocean and Fisheries Assessment and Scientific Methods”

Course description

This graduate-level course provides an introduction to ecosystem modelling with a focus on the Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) modelling framework, the world's most widely used ecological modelling software system.
The development of EwE has been centred at UBC since the mid 1990s, with the instructor as the lead developer
Students will learn to develop and apply ecosystem models to address scientific questions related to food web dynamics and ecosystem-based management.
The course combines lectures, hands-on tutorials, and individual project work.
The course has been drastically updated for the 2026 course with increased focus on addressing a suite of research/policy questions

Topics covered

Modelling strategy and data requirements
Mass-balance modelling
Time-dynamic modeling, including climate and other environmental impacts, mediation
Spatial-dynamic modeling
Economic and social aspects and ecological trade-offs
Addressing research and policy questions

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Understand the principles and applications of ecosystem modelling
Develop and analyze models using the EwE software
Apply ecosystem models to address research questions as part of the blue economy
Critically evaluate ecosystem modelling approaches and results
Evaluate ecological, economic and social trade-offs in management

Prerequisites

There are no specific prerequisites, but students should have a basic understanding of ecology and an interest in quantitative methods. "Common ecological sense" is essential.

Schedule

Summer session, term 3: May 11 - 29, 2026
Weekdays from 9 to 11.50
The intention is that around one third of the time will be spent on presentations and discussions, one third on hands-on tutorials focused on research/policyh questions, and one third working on your own research/policy questions.
It is great if you have a research/policy question that can fit into your own research. If so, we can construct a model for the purpose – or if you already have one, use that.
Location: AERL 320
Contact Villy Christensen for information or to discuss.

Required Materials: All open source

Open textbook: Christensen and Walters. 2024. "Ecosystem Modelling with EwE". Freely available at https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/ewemodel/
Software: Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) version 6.7 or later (free download, open source), please download it from www.ecopath.org.
A notebook with Windows operating system. For Mac/Linux users, a virtualization software is required: Parallels is recommended. It can be purchased with education discount at https://www.parallels.com/plans/education, (14 day free trials can get you started). Please try to sort this out before the course, or discuss with Villy.
Fish 501 in 2021 had numerous guest lectures that were recorded, and made available at the Ecopath YouTube channel. You are encouraged to check those out before the course.

Rationale

This is a graduate course, and it is expected of participants that they prepare for classes – students and instructor alike.
There are no graded tests, mid-term or final, but instead a mini-paper on a modelling topic chosen by each student.
See Expectations and Grading for further.

Participation

This course is open to graduate students at UBC and other Western Canadian universities through the Western Canadian Dean's Agreement.
Students may audit the course with instructor permission. See G+PS guidelines are at this link.
Upper-level undergraduate students may be permitted to enroll with instructor approval.

If you are ill

Please don’t come to class if you have an illness that could be transmitted to those around you, (e.g., a respiratory infection). We may be able to use Zoom if you're up for it.
In this class, the marking scheme is intended to provide flexibility so that you can prioritize your health and still succeed. Please inform your instructor if you are ill; you will not lose participation marks if you miss a small number of classes due to illness. If you are ill for a longer period of time, please contact your instructor to discuss, and apply for an academic concession. More information about UBC’s framework for preventing communicable disease is here.

Academic concession

Students requiring accommodations should consult the UBC guidelines , and contact UBC Centre for Accessiblity before or as early as possible in the term.

Academic integrity, Generative Artificial Intelligence, and Copyright

See separate page.

Instructor:

Villy Christensen; IOF-website link.

Teaching assistant:

Guest lecturers (some via Zoom):

Santiago de la Puente
Carl Walters

Google Sites

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