RETRACTED: What about the art of modeling?

Abstract This book, by its title, claims to be an introduction to the art and science of modeling ecological systems. In the preface, we stated that we view ecological modeling as both an art and a science, that the science has its foundations in systems theory, and that the art has its foundations in our innate ability for abstract representation of the world around us. We further stated that we have tried to achieve an appropriate balance between the artistic and scientific aspects of the modeling process. However, arguably, much of the “art” of modeling has remained implicit throughout this book. We would hope that readers have gained a “sense” of the “artistic” aspects of ecological modeling, particularly while reading the chapter on conceptual model formulation, and also the chapter in which we presented a candid view of the modeling process. Nonetheless, as the title of this final chapter suggests, we would like to reflect more explicitly on the artistic aspects of modeling, particularly within the context of the science of ecology.