A Stepwise Fitting Procedure for automated fitting of Ecopath with Ecosim models

The Stepwise Fitting Procedure automates testing of alternative hypotheses used for fitting Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) models to observation reference data (Mackinson et al. 2009). The calibration of EwE model predictions to observed data is important to evaluate any model that will be used for ecosystem based management. Thus far, the model fitting procedure in EwE has been carried out manually: a repetitive task involving setting >1000 specific individual searches to find the statistically 'best fit' model. The novel fitting procedure automates the manual procedure therefore producing accurate results and lets the modeller concentrate on investigating the 'best fit' model for ecological accuracy.