A connection between discrete individual-based and continuous population-based models: A forest modelling case study

Abstract

Modelling is perceived as a way of dealing with real life activities. The aim of this work is to compare two approaches to study forest dynamics, namely discrete individual-based and continuous population-based models, in order to contribute to an improvement in their use among researchers. An analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the two different approaches, jointly with a mention of the state-of-the-art, allows us to illustrate this discussion. We will also provide a bridge or connection between these two modelling methodologies. This link will be developed in detail in a particular study case. Firstly, an individual-tree based model to deal with dynamics of forests is presented. Secondly, this model is scaled up to a system of partial differential equations, which represents the limiting behaviour of the individual-
based model.