11th ICRS Mini-Symposium 20: Modeling concepts & processes on coral reefs

We would like to invite you to participate in Mini-Symposium 20, "Modeling  concepts & processes on coral reefs", being held at the 11th International  Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 7-11 July 2008.

The 11th ICRS science program will address scientific questions within the  framework of a series of Mini-Symposia developed to address problems and  issues on contemporary coral reefs and assist management to sustain future  reefs.  The complete list of mini-symposia is available at  http://www.nova.edu/ncri/11icrs/scientificprogram.html .

The central theme for the 11th ICRS is "REEFS FOR THE FUTURE." The  Symposium goals are to provide a scientific basis for coral-reef ecosystem  management by articulating the state of the science with respect to current  and emerging stressors; improve the understanding of reef condition,  function, and productivity; and grow the fields of coral-reef ecosystem  science, conservation, and multidisciplinary research by facilitating the  exchange of ideas.

Key topics and questions for the "Modeling concepts & processes on coral  reefs" session include, but are not limited to

1) What are the key biophysical and socioeconomic processes that can  effectively predict trajectories of decline, stasis, or recovery of coral  reefs?

2) How can biophysical and socio-economic processes be coupled to model the  future of reefs?

3) What conceptual, qualitative, analytical, or numerical models are  currently available to link improved coastal management with changes in  coral reefs?

4) What are the trade-offs between simpler and more complex (e.g., data  rich) models and algorithms for better understanding of key ecological  processes and for applications to conservation planning?

 Details of the conference can be found at http://www.nova.edu/ncri/11icrs/ . The deadline for abstract submission is 15 November 2007, and abstracts  must be submitted to http://www.nova.edu/ncri/11icrs/abstracts.html .   Authors wishing to present in this session should select Mini-Symposium  20.  Oral presentations (one per person) will then be selected by the  session chairs based on merit and relevance and will be as inclusive as  possible, spanning participants from new students to established  researchers.

Please feel free to forward this message on to others, and if you have any  questions about this mini-symposium, please contact one of the organizers:

Carrie Kappel
National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
(kappel@nceas.ucsb.edu )

Dan Brumbaugh
American Museum of Natural History, Center for Biodiversity & Conservation
(brumba@amnh.org )

Kenny Broad
University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
(kbroad@rsmas.miami.edu )