advantage (because of the benefits accrued to the farmer) to allow agricultural 

 wastes to diminish the value of estuarine resources, in the long run it may be 

 considered unfair for the smaller, es tuarine-based activities to bear the 

 burden of associated costs. 



MODELING IN SCIENCE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 



Models in Scientific Research 



The role of ecological modeling in scientific research has been much debated 

 over the last decade or so (e.g., Watt 1975, Wiegert 1975). Some of the often 

 mentioned utilities of modeling in environmental research include 1) organizing 

 research objectives and methods (also identifying missing information or poorly 

 understood relationships and formalizing scientific hypotheses), 2) interpolating and 

 extrapolating from a given data base, and 3) testing sensitivities of model 

 variables in relation to their real-world counterparts. Pielou (1981) has recently 

 reviewed and critiqued these and other aspects of ecological modeling, concluding 

 that many of the various uses of models are reasonable but often overstated. 



In the course of our SAV research program, we have attempted to utilize 

 models toward a number of these objectives. While the ultimate success in meet- 

 ing such objectives will necessarily remain unclear, several more pragmatic 

 benefits have emerged from the modeling effort. For example, the conceptual 

 exercise associated with model development has provided a means for a productive 

 dialogue among diverse research specialists to integrate varied information. As 

 such, a model can serve as a format for discussion. Furthermore, models at the 

 conceptual level can help to bridge the dichotomy between descriptive and experi- 

 mental research objectives. Within the conceptual framework of ecological models 

 the linkage between mechanistic processes and overall ecological structure can 

 be made explicit. 



Models in Resource Management 



While ecological models have been used effectively in various resource 

 management programs (e.g., Jeffers 1973, Cooper 1975), logistic and personnel 

 problems can hinder this relationship (Mar 1974). We suggest in schematic form 

 (fig. 10) that balanced use of natural resources, such as Chesapeake Bay, 

 might best be achieved through interaction among resource managers, scientists 

 and users, with ecological models serving as an interface between these diverse 

 groups. In this view, management agencies develop alternative strategies for 

 resource allocation (1, numbers refer to figures) by interacting with user 

 groups and by following traditional management practices. While it is generally 

 difficult to project the potential impact of new management scenarios (2) on 

 natural resources or on regional socio-economic interests, managers attempt to 

 select policies (3) which lead to balanced resource uses (10). Various user 

 groups utilize the Bay in response to needs and desires (7), some of which 

 conflict with one another (8), resulting in an identifiable management problem 

 (9). Scientific groups study the Bay to catalogue and understand the dynamic 

 behavior of the ecosystem and its component parts (4). Such research generates 

 scientific data (5), which in itself is of some use to resource managers, but 

 which finds more utility as it emerges into a conceptual framework (models). 

 Such models can be formalized into a simulation modeling scheme (6), which can 

 be used to forecast potential Impacts of various management options. In addition, 



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