Mechanisms matter: Predicting the ecological impacts of global change

The ability of mechanistic models to reliably extrapolate to novel conditions could position them as the gold standard in understanding the impacts of global change, but exactly how mechanistic models can be used most effectively remains to be determined. In this issue, Desforges et al. present a mechanistic physiological model to understand the drivers of muskox population dynamics. We took this as an opportunity to discuss the potential for, and challenges of, using mechanistic models to predict ecological responses to environmental change.

Automated summary

Mechanistic models have the potential to be the gold standard in understanding the impacts of global change. Desforges et al. present a mechanistic physiological model to understand muskox population dynamics, sparking a discussion on the potential for using mechanistic models to predict ecological responses to environmental change.