Models

• Modeling is a way of abstracting nature.
  credit: brentdanley
• Why do we need models?
  
  
  • Observe bees behavior during picnic, and wonder about visitation pattern.
  • Simplify the reality and come up with ``empirical laws''
    Plant density $\Rightarrow$ time spent in one plant.
  • Assume that bees are optmizing the energy economics, and comes up with a mathematical model.
  • Analysis of the model results in prediction
• Different kinds of models
  • Simplistic analytical models
  • Simulational models
    • Does the simplified models capture the complex reality?
    • In biology, analytical models can easily become intractable
    • Test the conclusions of analytical models.