@conference {411, title = {Ningaloo from a systems perspective {\textendash} What has it taught us?}, booktitle = {19th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation}, year = {2011}, month = {12/2011}, publisher = {Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand}, organization = {Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand}, address = {Perth}, abstract = {A system-level perspective of exploited marine and coastal ecosystems provides insight into cross-scale dynamics and potential conflicts between sectors operating within the same region. Such insights are a necessary part of adaptive management, as conflict and {\textquoteleft}surprise{\textquoteright} outcomes of interactions between processes operating on different scales could undermine the intent of management actions taken in support of sustainable development. Agent-based models provide one means of obtaining the desired system perspective. These types of models are one of the few platforms that can deal with the large number of scales and processes that can drive the alternative states that socioecological systems can take. By defining individual-based approaches and both differential and discrete equation-based formulations as agents sufficient flexibility is provided to create cross-scale whole-of-system models that can include biophysical, social and economic drivers and interactions. This combination of agent types and the resulting flexibility has provided essential for identifying trade-offs between sectors, identifying {\textquotedblleft}unintended consequences{\textquotedblright} and supporting the implementation of adaptive management in the Ningaloo Reef - Exmouth system of Western Australia.}, keywords = {modelling, Ningaloo}, isbn = {978-0-9872143-1-7}, url = {http://www.mssanz.org.au/modsim2011/index.htm}, attachments = {http://ningaloo-atlas.org.au/sites/default/files/Fulton et al. 2011a.pdf}, author = {Fulton, EA and Gray, R and Sporcic, M and Scott, R and Gorton, B and Hepburn, M and Boschetti, F and Thomas, L}, editor = {Chan, F and Marinova, D and Anderssen, RS} }