QUESTIONS POSED TO THE PANELS FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION 



Six general questions were put forth for possible consideration by 

 the panels as they related to the panel topic: 



1) For what portion of the marine biome and for what ecosystem components 

 can we use predictive (forecasting) models? What are the general 

 limits or confines of predictability? What are the spatial and temporal 

 limits or restrictions? 



2) Site specific models have a high degree of "realism" and perhaps 

 precision, but they usually are not transferable to other geographical 

 areas or problems. Is it feasible/practical to develop a "generic" 

 model which is adaptable to other areas and problems? Are certain 

 model components translocatable? How do we relate tradeoffs between 

 resolution, precision, and transferability? Specificity versus 

 generality? 



3) At which level and to what extent should modelers be involved in 

 the up-front planning and designing of ecosystem analysis /assessment 

 programs? Who should they interface with? What should their input 

 be? 



4) What are the advantages and disadvantages of empirical versus 

 mechanistic models, static versus dynamic models, and holistic versus 

 limited focus (i.e., single species or several species) models? How 

 do we relate the modeling approach to the management question, the 

 available data base, and the available modeling resources? 



5) Can the panels identify and give priority to several areas of "high 

 return" research which would enhance ecosystem modeling and which can be 

 accomplished for a relatively low financial investment (e.g., $50,000)? 



6) In a very broad sense can the panels identify critical weaknesses 

 and strengths of ecosystem modeling as a resource management and 

 environmental impact assessment tool? 



Each of the four panels addressed, to a greater or lesser extent, several 

 or all of the six questions. Panel C chose to systematically address all six 

 questions. Panel B formulated its own list of issue questions and found 

 that, in substance, it was nearly identical to the above list. Panels A and 

 D addressed the questions as they surfaced in their deliberations and debated 

 them to a point that was necessary to arrive at a panel consensus. 



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