Patterns and individual-based modeling of spatial competition within two main components of neotropical mangrove ecosystems [Elektronische Ressource] / Cyril Piou

Patterns and individual-basedmodeling of spatial competition withintwo main components of Neotropicalmangrove ecosystems.Doctoral thesisCyril PiouSubmitted to the Faculty 2 (Biology & Chemistry),in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree ofDoctor of Natural Sciences (Dr. rer. nat.)Evaluators:PD Dr. Uta BergerProf. Dr. Ulrich Saint-PaulAdditional examinators:Dr. Ilka Candy FellerProf. Dr. Juliane FilserFebruary 2007iiiiiTo my Parents, Martha and my future baby...ivPrefaceI have “really” started being interested in Ecology as a scientific topic in2002 with my field trip in Belize for my master thesis. There, I fall in lovewith the amazing environment of mangroves. But particularly, I felt as anecologist during that time because I started to convert my natural curiosityinto a scientific process of sampling and data analysis, dealing with plantsinteracting with and within their environment. During the many hours spentin Belizean mangroves, I liked imagining possible processes that drove thearchitectures of single trees or structure of the forest itself. I guess it is partlyfrom these times as well that comes my interest for modeling and statisticaltools trying to unraveling the hidden. I have been very influenced duringthis first experience by the own passion of Candy for the mangroves, as wellas the inputs of Uta in imagining processes with her KiWi model...