00:01
Okay, so for this question, it's another basic vocabulary and understanding the concepts presented in this chapter.
00:08
So for this one, let's just go ahead and run through all of the options we have and see which ones, based mainly on, you know, the terminology given in and of itself, to figure out which one uses mathematical equations in order to, excuse me, model systems in ecology and can be used for studying ecosystems.
00:39
So let's just run down the line and start with what seems to make the most logical sense for this question, which is analytical modeling.
00:48
So analytical modeling makes it sound like, you know, you're doing analysis, you're running some sort of analytical model.
00:57
In a local model, it's in the name.
01:01
And actually, in this case, this is the type of modeling that uses mathematical and statistical equations and functions in order to model and predict how different changes in different variables will affect ecosystems.
01:16
So, for instance, let's say if you want to see how changes in rain and precipitation levels, can impact net primary productivity at a certain rate, then you might use an analytical model that has been generated based on prior data.
01:42
So this seems to be our correct answer right off the bat, a.
01:48
But before we fully check this off, let's take a look at our other options and just make sure we're not missing anything.
01:56
So after this, we have our simulation modeling.
01:59
And just based solely on the name, we have simulation.
02:03
That implies something virtual, maybe modeled in a computer, something that's done via a program or something that's like not the thing in it of itself, but a mirror of that thing.
02:18
And in fact, that is what simulation modeling is.
02:21
Simulation modeling is basically using a computer program and kind of like a more complex analytical model to recreate the ecosystem as a computer program that you can input various variables and data and change them to see how the ecosystem might change in the future given different changes in external or internal factors.
02:50
So that is not the answer that we're looking for right here.
02:56
And next up we have conceptual.
02:58
Modeling.
02:58
And again, break it down, conceptual.
03:01
It's a concept.
03:04
Conceptional modeling actually happens outside of ecosystems, and you might have heard this term refer to in various english classes as flowcharts.
03:14
Because that's basically, or that's one example of a conceptual model...